How the national numbers differ
1Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products has the edge on median pay
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products is at $104,920, compared with $35,410 for Retail Salespersons.
Typical preparation differs.
Retail Salespersons: No formal educational credential; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products: Bachelor's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.
Retail Salespersons has the edge on annual openings
Retail Salespersons is at 520,600 annual openings, compared with 23,600 annual openings for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products has the edge on projected growth
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products is at 1.2% projected growth, compared with -0.3% projected growth for Retail Salespersons.
49.2/ 100Retail Salespersons
vs
62.4/ 100Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.
Detailed evidence
Retail Salespersons vs Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
| Dimension | Retail Salespersons | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products |
|---|
| Median pay (2025) | $35,410 | $104,920 |
|---|
| Pay percentile | 3.3 percentile | 85.7 percentile |
|---|
| Projected growth (2025–2035) | -0.3% | 1.2% |
|---|
| Annual openings (2025–2035) | 520,600 | 23,600 |
|---|
| 2025 employment | 3,998,100 | 292,000 |
|---|
| How you qualify | No formal educational credential; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing | Bachelor's degree; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing |
| O*NET preparation group | Job Zone 2 | Job Zone 4 |
| Related work experience | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. | No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary. |
| On-the-job training | One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing. | More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing. |
The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.
