Insurance Agents and Sales Representatives

How to become a Sales Representative

Official title: Sales Representative (Building and Plumbing Supplies)

Represents their company in selling builders' timber, and building and plumbing hardware and supplies to wholesale and retail establishments.

Main tasks

Identifies potential customers and generates leads for builders' timber, building and plumbing hardware and supplies
Contacts wholesale and retail establishments to promote and sell builders' timber, building and plumbing supplies
Demonstrates and explains the features and benefits of products to customers, retailers and wholesalers
Provides advice and recommendations to customers on the appropriate builders' timber, building and plumbing supplies for their needs
Prepares and presents quotes and proposals to customers, retailers and wholesalers, negotiating terms and conditions of sale
Processes orders and ensures timely delivery of builders' timber, building and plumbing supplies to customers, retailers and wholesalers
Builds and maintains relationships with retailers and wholesalers, providing ongoing support and assistance
Prepares sales reports and forecasts for management

Ways in

TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Business to Business Sales (SIR30316); Certificate III in Timber Building Products Supply (FWP30622); Certificate III in Entrepreneurship and New Business (BSB30220); Certificate III in Plumbing (CPC32420)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Typical full-time pay: $87,984 a year
About 76,500 people work in this job group now, and about 79,800 are projected by 2035. (+4.2%)
Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Sales Representative?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Business to Business Sales; Certificate III in Timber Building Products Supply.

How much does a Sales Representative earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $87,984 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Sales Representative a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 76,500 to about 79,800 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Sales Representative?

Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Business to Business Sales; Certificate III in Timber Building Products Supply.

Will AI change the work of a Sales Representative?

Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

Sources

Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04