Sales
Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.
Median pay
$69,990
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
115,700
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel: 16% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and provide ongoing support.
- Answer customers' questions about services, prices, availability, or credit terms.
- Develop sales presentations or proposals to explain service specifications.
- Create forms or agreements to complete sales.
- Contact prospective or existing customers to discuss how services can meet their needs.
- Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
- Quote prices, credit terms, contract terms, or fulfillment dates for services.
- Maintain customer records using automated systems.
Also called: National Sales Executive · Sales Representative (Sales Rep)
Outlook and AI
Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel held 1,272,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 1,306,700 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Productivity change - share decreases as generative artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into the sales process allowing sales representatives to focus on direct sales activity.
Compare with
- Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel vs. Customer service representative
- Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel vs. Telemarketer
- Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel vs. Sales manager
- Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel vs. Advertising sales agent
- Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel vs. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel vs. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel vs. Marketing manager
- Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel vs. New accounts clerk
- Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel vs. Insurance sales agent
- Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel vs. Demonstrators and product promoters