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.
Median pay
$72,080
Growth to 2035
−1%
little or no change
Openings a year
99,800
Time to qualify*
6 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
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, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products: 66% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Account Representative · Customer Account Technician · Inside Salesperson · Outside Sales Representative · Route Sales Representative · Sales Consultant · Sales Professional · Sales Representative (Sales Rep)
Outlook and AI
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products held 1,279,400 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 1,268,200 by 2035 (−1%, little or no change; 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, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products vs. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
- Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products vs. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products vs. Buyers and purchasing agents
- Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products vs. Advertising sales agent
- Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products vs. Sales engineer
- Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products vs. Sales manager
- Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products vs. Purchasing manager
- Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products vs. Procurement clerk