Cost of hiring a sales development representative in San Francisco-Oakland, CA
San Francisco-Oakland is a higher-paying market for sales development representatives: the median of $96,960 a year[1] is 19.9% above the California statewide median of $80,850, and 38.5% above the US median of $69,990. Only 3 of 520 US areas pay more for this job. About 29,980 sales development representatives work here, 19% of the California total.
BLS occupation 41-3091, area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in San Francisco-Oakland against California and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | $50,830 | $96,960 | $191,380 | |
| California | $43,240 | $80,850 | $168,720 | |
| United States | $37,980 | $69,990 | $148,840 |
The middle half of sales development representatives in San Francisco-Oakland earns $66,180–$139,260. The top tenth earns $191,380 or more, 3.8 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 3.9 times. The mean ($110,360) is 14% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for a sales development representative here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,830 | $4,236 | $24.44 | $72,614 |
| 25th percentile | $66,180 | $5,515 | $31.82 | $94,543 |
| Median | $96,960 | $8,080 | $46.62 | $138,514 |
| 75th percentile | $139,260 | $11,605 | $66.95 | $198,943 |
| 90th percentile | $191,380 | $15,948 | $92.01 | $273,400 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $42,300 a year in pay and about $60,429 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $30,780 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in San Francisco-Oakland
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $41,554 to the $96,960 median and brings it to $138,514 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for sales development representatives we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in San Francisco-Oakland
Of the 17 roles we track in San Francisco-Oakland, this one ranks #6 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $135,040 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $49,450.
| Role | Median | vs sales development representative | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +39.3% | 20,770 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +27.1% | 24,120 | |
| Accountant | +14.2% | 25,170 | |
| Executive Assistant | +8.5% | 11,250 | |
| Recruiter | +6.4% | 16,420 | |
| Sales Development Representative | this role | 29,980 | |
| Office Manager | -8.7% | 19,480 | |
| Paralegal | -13.3% | 7,630 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -17.0% | 2,260 | |
| HR Assistant | -31.4% | 1,300 | |
| Bookkeeper | -32.4% | 18,100 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -35.9% | 20,270 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -36.7% | 13,660 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -40.4% | 19,930 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -46.9% | 1,250 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -47.1% | 1,410 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -49.0% | 8,510 |
Other areas in California
Across the 28 areas of California with data for this job, the median runs from $46,050 in Hanford-Corcoran to $116,510 in San Jose-Sunnyvale, a gap of $70,460 a year.
| Area | Median | vs San Francisco-Oakland | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +20.2% | 13,390 | |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | this area | 29,980 | |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | -18.1% | 50,470 | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | -23.1% | 11,730 | |
| Napa, CA | -24.2% | 370 | |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | -24.9% | 1,470 | |
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA | -25.8% | 6,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a sales development representative in San Francisco-Oakland, CA?
About $138,514 a year at the median, or $11,543 a month: $96,960 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do sales development representatives earn in San Francisco-Oakland?
The median was $96,960 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $50,830, the 90th $191,380, and the middle half earned $66,180 to $139,260.
Is San Francisco-Oakland cheaper than the rest of California for sales development representatives?
No, it costs more: a median of $96,960 against $80,850 statewide. San Jose-Sunnyvale pays the most ($116,510) and Hanford-Corcoran the least ($46,050).
How many sales development representatives work in San Francisco-Oakland?
BLS counts about 29,980 in the May 2025 survey. That is 19% of the California total of 156,110.
Does a sales development representative cost more than an office manager in San Francisco-Oakland?
Yes: $8,400 a year more at the median. The medians are $96,960 and $88,560.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 41-3091: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes413091.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-06.