How to become a Sales Representative

Official title: Sales Representative (Industrial Products)

Represents companies in selling a range of specialised chemicals, machines, manufacturing materials and other industrial supplies.

Main tasks

• Identifies potential customers and generates leads for industrial products
• Demonstrates the operation of industrial products and equipment, and explains the benefits to customers
• Provides technical support and training to customers on the safe use of industrial products
• Quotes and negotiates prices and credit terms, and completes contracts and records orders
• Arranges delivery of goods and installation of industrial equipment
• Follows up with clients to ensure satisfaction with goods and services purchased, and resolves any problems that arise
• Supports, assists and sells to walk-in customers
• Monitors market trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities for business growth
• Attends trade shows, conferences and industry events to promote industrial products

Ways in

• University: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 39 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Business to Business Sales (SIR30316)

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $134,992 a year
• About 27,900 people work in this job group now, and about 34,800 are projected by 2035. (+24.6%)
• Many tasks in this job could be automated by AI. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as high.

Related jobs

• ICT Account Manager
• ICT Sales Representative
• Sales Representative (Medical and Pharmaceutical Products)

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Sales Representative?

Ways in include: Business & Commerce degrees; Certificate III in Business to Business Sales.

How much does a Sales Representative earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $134,992 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Sales Representative a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 25% by 2035, from about 27,900 to about 34,800 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become a Sales Representative?

Usually not. Only 23% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Business & Commerce degrees; Certificate III in Business to Business Sales.

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