Sales · Career brief

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$72,080

Above the middle on pay

2025 national median. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

-0.9%

Projected employment decline

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Bottom quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

99,800

Exceptional hiring volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Top 10% for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Persuasive / leading

Influence, decisions, and results matter

Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects employment to shrink 0.9% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is opening volume; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if persuasive or leadership-oriented work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: BLS projects employment to shrink 0.9% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

Before choosing, compare:Insurance Sales Agents Advertising Sales Agents Real Estate Agent

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products with another field Explore rankings in Sales Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$72,080

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

-0.9%employment growth99,800openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

1,279,400

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products (41-4012).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.
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.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

BLS projects employment to shrink 0.9% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Selling or Influencing Others4.9
Getting Information4.5
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.4
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.4
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.3

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Enterprising6.1
Conventional4.9
Social2.7
Realistic2.6
Investigative2.2
Artistic1.7

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Sales and Marketing Mathematics Transportation Computers and Electronics

Software and tools named in job postings

Salesforce software

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Work through a realistic case with incomplete information: make a recommendation, show the numbers behind it, and defend the tradeoffs.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions. Examples of tools used in the occupation include Salesforce software; check which ones employers near you actually require.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options

Compare before committing

The useful question is not whether one field wins overall, but what changes when you choose a nearby path. Explore the full career guides for Insurance Sales Agents, Advertising Sales Agents, Real Estate Agent, Real Estate Brokers.