Sales / Account Manager Salary
Salary Breakdown
Sales / Account Manager Pay Per Hour
A sales / account manager in waste management earns an average of $33.00 per hour. The table below converts every annual figure on this page to an hourly, weekly and monthly equivalent at a standard 2080-hour work year (40 hours a week, 52 weeks), so you can compare an hourly job posting directly against an advertised annual salary.
| Level | Per Hour | Per Week | Per Month | Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $20.19 | $808 | $3,500 | $42,000 |
| Low end | $23.08 | $923 | $4,000 | $48,000 |
| Average | $33.00 | $1,308 | $5,667 | $68,000 |
| High end | $45.67 | $1,827 | $7,917 | $95,000 |
| Senior / top of scale | $57.69 | $2,308 | $10,000 | $120,000 |
Hourly, weekly and monthly columns are calculated from the annual figures in this guide (annual ÷ 2080 hours, ÷ 52 weeks and ÷ 12 months). They describe base pay only. Overtime, shift differentials and bonuses are not included.
Top Paying Cities
| City | State | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York | NY | $85,000 |
| Los Angeles | CA | $80,000 |
| Houston | TX | $74,000 |
| Atlanta | GA | $72,000 |
| Dallas | TX | $70,000 |
About This Role
Sales and account managers in waste management develop new commercial accounts, negotiate service contracts, and maintain relationships with existing customers. They assess client waste streams to propose tailored collection, recycling, and disposal solutions. Commission structures and performance bonuses often significantly supplement base salaries.
Key Skills
Certifications
Entry-Level Pay and Getting Hired With No Experience
Waste-industry experience is rarely a hiring requirement here. Sales ability is. Haulers regularly recruit inside-sales and junior territory reps from other B2B sectors and teach the waste stream, container types and pricing structure in-house. Candidates coming from operations or customer service inside the industry also move across, since they already understand what is being sold.
Entry-level pay for this role starts around $42,000 a year, about $20.19 an hour, or roughly $3,500 a month before overtime. That is $26,000 below the national average for the role, which is the gap experience, certifications and location close over time.
Other waste management roles that regularly hire without prior industry experience: CDL Driver ($26.50/hr), Recycling Sorter ($16.50/hr), Diesel Mechanic / Fleet Technician ($30.00/hr) and Hazmat Waste Handler ($25.00/hr).
See entry-level sales / account manager jobs hiring now →Part-Time Sales / Account Manager Work
Territory and account management are full-time roles built around a customer book and a quota cycle, so part-time arrangements are uncommon. Field-based territory work does usually carry day-to-day scheduling autonomy, which is a different kind of flexibility.
If a reduced schedule is what you need, the roles below carry far more genuine part-time availability while keeping you in the same industry.
Waste management roles with the most part-time and weekend availability: CDL Driver ($26.50/hr), Recycling Sorter ($16.50/hr), Helper / Laborer ($15.50/hr) and Admin / Office ($20.00/hr).
Search part-time sales / account manager jobs →Union Pay Scale for Sales / Account Managers
Commercial sales roles sit outside collective bargaining units. Pay is set by a base salary plus a commission plan rather than a negotiated wage scale, which is why the spread between the low and high end of this role is wider than in the hourly trades.
One important caveat: the figures on this page are national averages across union and non-union employers alike. They are not a union wage scale. Actual scale rates are set contract by contract and local by local, they change when an agreement is renegotiated, and the only authoritative source is the current agreement itself. Request it from the local or the employer’s HR department before you rely on a number.
Other commonly unionised waste management roles: CDL Driver, Recycling Sorter, Diesel Mechanic / Fleet Technician and Helper / Laborer.
Job Outlook
Sales roles in waste management offer strong earning potential, particularly as the industry consolidates and companies compete for commercial and industrial accounts. Growing demand for sustainability consulting and zero-waste programs is creating new revenue streams that sales teams can capitalize on. Top performers with industry knowledge regularly earn six-figure total compensation.
Sales / Account Manager Career Path & Salary Expectations
A career as a sales / account manager in the waste management industry offers a clear trajectory from entry-level positions starting around $42,000 per year to senior roles earning $120,000 or more annually. With the national average sitting at $68,000 ($33.00/hr), professionals in this field can expect competitive compensation that grows with experience, certifications, and geographic location. Top-paying markets like New York offer salaries as high as $85,000. Whether you are just entering the waste and recycling industry or looking to advance your career, investing in relevant skills and certifications is the most reliable path to higher earning potential in this essential and growing sector.
Put another way, the average works out to about $33.00 an hour, $1,308 a week or $5,667 a month on a full 2080-hour year, before the overtime, shift premiums and bonuses covered above. To compare this role against the rest of the industry, see the full waste management salary guide, or go straight to sales / account manager openings and every waste management job on the board.