Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing

How to become a Sales Representative

Official title: Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

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

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

Main tasks

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.
Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports.

How to become one

Educational requirements vary for sales representatives and depend on the type of products sold. If the products are not scientific or technical, a high school diploma is generally sufficient for entry into the occupation. If the products are scientific or technical, sales representatives typically need at least a bachelor's degree.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Licence: A licence is required in 17 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $72,080 a year The middle half earn $50,470 to $99,640.
About 1,279,400 people work in this job now, and about 1,268,200 are projected by 2035. (-0.9%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Sales Representative?

How much does a Sales Representative earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $72,080 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $50,470 to $99,640.

Is a Sales Representative a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 1,279,400 people now and 1,268,200 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Sales Representative?

Not always. 50% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Sales Representative?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 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.