recommended time to drive from salerno to sorrento?

Assuming you drive along the Amalfi Coast, it takes at least 2 1/2 hours if you don’t stop at all.

The Amalfi coastal road is quite challenging to drive: you'd need about 2.5 hours without stops and with moderate but not peak-season traffic.
It requires the fullest attention of the driver, so it is not a drive for everyone. Ferries and buses are a more relaxing way to get around, especially given the lack of parking facilities at the towns along the way. And if you do drive, it is more scenic (but scarier) in the other direction, next to the sea.

Otherwise, if you just need to get from Salerno to Sorrento, going the other way via Castellamare takes barely more than an hour.

We would stop, that's why I want to know how much time to budget. What are favorite places to stop along the way?

Take the ferry or bus
Parking is a huge issue-as is driving along the AC

What time of year would this be? Is it meant to be just a sightseeing trip or a move from Salerno to Sorrento?

When we drove it in July the traffic was a bumper to bumper crawl when near any of the towns. Parking was seemingly non-existent, so cars were parked in areas that I would not have expected. ( partially blocking the travel lanes)

If during high season, a car is the least desirable way to stop and visit the towns.

Salerno > Angri (25min) Castel Doria
Take the A3/E45

Angri > Castellammare Di Stabia ( 20min).
Thermal baths & villas.

Take the SP3 to the SP122
This route is thru the countryside eliminating the mess from Pompei to the 145.

Castellammare > Sorrento (35 min). 145 shorter time in wall to wall traffic.

the route suggested by gerri uses the highway, goes around the north side of the peninsula avoiding the Amalfi coast.

I had a very nice week at Castellammare Di Stabia a few years ago.

Going the whole length of the south shore of the Amalfi Coast can be quite a frustrating, beautiful but frustrating, drive.

A lot of the time you'll take will be taken up by looking for parking at the places you want to stop at.

2 and a half to three hours driving non-stop.

We would stop, that's why I want to know how much time to budget.

If this is happening May-through September, I would budget all day. Finding parking and getting to from the car at whatever it is you are visiting, will eat up significant time.