What do they do?

Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

Also known as:

Account Representative, Customer Account Technician, Inside Salesperson, Outside Sales Representative, Route Sales Representative, Sales Consultant, Sales Coordinator, Sales Professional, Sales Representative (Sales Rep), Salesman, Salesperson

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products is projected to grow 3 percent from 2022 to 2032, more slowly than average compared to all occupations.

Projected Employment in VA

No Data Available
  • 3%

    Change

    Ranks #20 in job growth rate
    2,450

    Job Openings

    Ranks #24 in net job growth

Best colleges for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Bachelor's degree  (41%)
  • Some college, no degree  (22%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (17%)
  • Associate's degree  (9%)
  • Master's degree  (7%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (3%)
  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (1%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

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People in this career often have these skills:

  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Negotiate prices or other sales terms.
  • Purchase stocks of merchandise or supplies.
  • Monitor inventories of products or materials.
  • Set up merchandise displays.
  • Stock products or parts.
  • Coordinate sales campaigns.
  • Answer customer questions about goods or services.
  • Recommend products or services to customers.
  • Estimate costs or terms of sales.
  • Explain technical product or service information to customers.
  • Advise customers on the use of products or services.
  • Prepare sales or other contracts.
  • Distribute promotional literature or samples to customers.
  • Monitor market conditions or trends.
  • Study product information to acquire professional knowledge.
  • Prepare financial documents, reports, or budgets.
  • Maintain records of sales or other business transactions.
  • Prepare drawings or diagrams of products or services.
  • Develop proposals for current or prospective customers.
  • Verify customer credit information.
  • Demonstrate products to consumers.
  • Contact current or potential customers to promote products or services.
  • Send information, materials or documentation.
  • Order materials, supplies, or equipment.
  • Identify potential customers.
  • Arrange delivery of goods or services.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (“USDOL/ETA”). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

careeronestop logo Videos: CareerOneStop, USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development

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