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Sales

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
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Median pay

$66,780
Median annual pay for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

0.3%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

114,800
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

1,310,500
Estimated U.S. employment for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+4,400
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical additional preparation: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Critical Thinking
  4. 4Reading Comprehension
  5. 5Writing
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Sales and Marketing
  2. 2Customer and Personal Service
  3. 3English Language
  4. 4Mathematics
  5. 5Transportation
  6. 6Computers and Electronics

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Expression
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Speech Clarity
  4. 4Speech Recognition
  5. 5Written Comprehension
  6. 6Written Expression

Career interests

  1. 1Enterprising
  2. 2Conventional
  3. 3Social
  4. 4Realistic
  5. 5Investigative
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Perseverance
  2. 2Social Orientation
  3. 3Self-Confidence
  4. 4Achievement Orientation
  5. 5Optimism
  6. 6Dependability

Work activities

  1. 1Selling or Influencing Others
  2. 2Getting Information
  3. 3Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  4. 4Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  5. 5Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  6. 6Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

Work context

  1. 1Contact With Others
  2. 2Telephone Conversations
  3. 3Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
  4. 4Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  5. 5E-Mail
  6. 6Frequency of Decision Making

Representative 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.

Software and tools

Microsoft Outlook · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Excel · in demandSalesforce software · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · in demandMicrosoft SharePoint · hot technologyEpic Systems · hot technologyESRI ArcGIS software · hot technologyExtensible markup language XML · hot technologyFacebook · hot technologyGoogle Analytics · hot technologyGoogle Docs · hot technology

The short answer

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

The measurable national baseline is $66,780 median annual pay, 0.3% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034, and 114,800 projected openings per year. Use these figures as a national benchmark rather than a personal forecast; location, experience, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours can change individual outcomes.

Pay and the size of the opportunity

The national median-pay figure for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products is $66,780. Current employment is 1,310,500, with projected 2034 employment of 1,314,900. Pay describes the middle worker nationally, not a guaranteed starting salary, and the employment totals describe the occupation's scale rather than the number of jobs available to one applicant.

Demand, growth, and annual openings

BLS projects 0.3% employment growth for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products from 2024 to 2034 and about 114,800 openings per year. Growth measures whether the occupation is expanding, while annual openings also include replacement needs created when workers retire, change occupations, or leave the labor force.

Education and preparation

The typical BLS entry-education category is High school diploma or equivalent. Related work experience is None, and the listed on-the-job training category is Moderate-term on-the-job training. These categories summarize a national pathway; licensing, certification, portfolios, apprenticeships, or local employer requirements may add to it.

What the work involves

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

A representative O*NET task is: Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms. The broader activity profile emphasizes Selling or Influencing Others, Getting Information, Making Decisions and Solving Problems.

Skills, knowledge, and tools

The strongest available O*NET skill signals are Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking. Leading knowledge areas are Sales and Marketing, Customer and Personal Service, English Language. These are national occupational signals, so a specific employer may emphasize a different mix. Examples of software or tools associated with the occupation include Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Excel, Salesforce software.

Common questions

What is the median pay for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products?

The national median annual pay in the current dataset is $66,780. Actual pay varies by location, experience, employer, specialty, credentials, and hours.

Is demand growing for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products?

BLS projects 0.3% employment growth from 2024 to 2034 and about 114,800 openings per year. Openings include both newly created positions and replacement demand.

What education is needed for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products?

The typical BLS entry-education category is High school diploma or equivalent. Related experience, on-the-job training, licensing, or certification requirements may also apply.

What does Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products involve?

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

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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