What should you pay your first US hire?
Check US salaries for 20 senior roles in every state, from Head of Sales to US Country Manager. Official government pay data, shown in USD, GBP or EUR. Then see the full cost of the hire in one click.
The role you are hiring
Remote hires are paid for the market they live in, not where your office is.
Most of our clients hire senior people. Senior roles usually pay around the 75th percentile.
This role in every US state
Pay at your chosen seniority level, ranked from highest to lowest. Select a state to see its full pay range.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Figures are annual base pay and include commissions, but exclude discretionary bonuses, equity and benefits. Pay for a specific role also depends on industry, company size and the candidate. Where a state did not publish a figure, we estimate it from the national rate and that state's pay levels.
How much do senior roles pay in the US?
Senior US salaries are usually well above UK and European levels. A senior Sales Director in the US typically earns $200,000 or more in base pay, and a General Manager around $170,000. Pay depends on the role, the seniority and, above all, the state your hire lives in. States such as New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington and California tend to pay the most. Many southern and midwestern states pay noticeably less.
At Foothold America, we help UK and European companies hire and employ their US teams. We see real offers every week, so we know where the market sits. Use the benchmark as your starting point, then talk to us before you make an offer.
What affects US pay
Six things that shape a US salary.
The state they live in
Pay varies widely between states. The same role can pay 30% more in New York than in a lower-cost state.
Seniority and scope
Senior hires who will build your US business usually sit at the 75th percentile or above.
Your industry
Technology, life sciences and finance pay more than most sectors for the same job title.
Bonus and commission
Sales roles often earn a large share of pay through commission. Plan for on-target earnings, not just base.
Benefits expectations
US candidates weigh health insurance and a 401(k) match alongside salary. A weak package costs you candidates.
Remote or office-based
Remote hires are paid for the market they live in. Hiring outside the big cities can stretch your budget further.
Exclusive Talent Acquisition
Hiring your first US person: on your own vs with us
A salary benchmark tells you what to pay. Finding the right person is the harder part, especially from the UK or Europe. Our Exclusive Talent Acquisition service finds senior US hires for international companies, from Head of Sales to US Country Manager. As a Foothold America client, you can save up to 50% on typical recruitment fees.
The hiring process
With Foothold America
Hiring on your own
Job description and package
With Foothold America
- Written with you, using real US market pay
Hiring on your own
- Guesswork from a UK or European view
Finding and screening candidates
With Foothold America
- We advertise, screen and run first interviews
Hiring on your own
- Your team sifts applications across time zones
Understanding US candidates
With Foothold America
- Insight into US culture and expectations
Hiring on your own
- Easy to misread what US candidates want
Offer and negotiation
With Foothold America
- We negotiate the offer on your behalf
Hiring on your own
- Unfamiliar US offer and negotiation norms
If the hire does not work out
With Foothold America
- Performance guarantee: we find a replacement
Hiring on your own
- Start the search again from scratch
Ready to make an offer?
A salary benchmark is a good start. A conversation helps you make an offer the right candidate will accept.
Laurie Spicer
Director of US Expansion. UK based.
What to expect on the call
- No sales pitch, just an honest read on your plans
- Salary and package advice for your role and state
- Clear advice on EOR, PEO+ or your own US entity
- Come as you are, no prep needed
Book a call with Laurie
Free guides for your first US hire
Your First US Employee Guide
Every step, deadline and cost involved in putting your first person on a US payroll.
US Employee Benefits Benchmark
The US legal floor is far shorter than most employers expect, and this is what the market expects on top of it.
At-Will Employment States Rulebook
Employment is at will in 49 states and DC, and this is what that changes about notice, severance and non-competes.
US salary benchmark: FAQs
Straight answers about US salaries for senior hires.
For senior roles, most companies aim for the 75th percentile of the local market. For a Sales Director that is often $200,000 or more in base pay, and more in high-cost states. Use the benchmark to see the figure for your role and state.
US pay levels are higher across most professional roles, especially in sales, technology and leadership. Employers also compete for talent with large US companies. Remember to budget for benefits too, as US employers fund most health insurance.
Yes, most companies pay remote employees for their local market. It keeps your offer competitive and fair. It also means hiring outside the most expensive cities can give you more for your budget.
No. The figures are annual base pay, including commissions. They exclude discretionary bonuses, equity and benefits. Use our US employee cost calculator to add employer taxes and benefits.
The figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025. It is the largest official source of US pay data, based on a survey of around 1.1 million US workplaces.
Click “See the full cost of this hire” under your result. It opens our US employee cost calculator with your salary and state filled in, so you can see payroll taxes, insurance and benefits.
Yes. We help UK and European companies hire, employ and pay their US teams. That includes salary advice, Employer of Record, PEO+ and setting up your own US entity.
Hiring in the US? Get the salary right first time.
Tell us about the role and where your hire will live. We will help you set a salary and package the right candidate will accept.
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