Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.
Also called: Account Representative · Customer Account Technician · Inside Salesperson · Outside Sales Representative · Route Sales Representative · Sales Consultant
Median pay (national)
$66,780
$37,860–$134,470 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
1,266,860
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+0.3%
~114,800 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $134,470 versus $37,860 at the bottom 10% — 3.6x. The median of $66,780 leaves roughly 101% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +0.3% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 114,800 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $79,190, +19% vs the national median), while Guam sits lowest at $30,020 — a 164% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.
- Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests.
- Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates.
- Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.
- Prepare sales contracts and order forms.
- Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.
- Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales.
- Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders.
- Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences.
- Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Salesforce software
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Apple macOS
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Cisco Webex
- Eclipse IDE
- Epic Systems
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- Extensible markup language XML
Knowledge areas
- Sales and Marketing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Transportation
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Communications and Media