Career Overview
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.
Also Known As
- Inside Sales Representative
- Marketing Representative
- Sales Representative
Alternate Job Titles
- Abrasives Sales Representative
- Agricultural Sales Representative
- Aircraft Equipment and Parts Sales Representative
- Aircraft Sales Representative
- Animal Feed Products Sales Representative
- Authorized Retailer
- Auto Sales Consultant (Automotive Sales Consultant)
- Building Equipment and Supplies Sales Representative
- Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
- Chemical Sales Representative
- Chemicals and Drugs Sales Representative
- Commercial Solar Sales Consultant
- Communication Equipment Sales Representative
- Computer Sales Representative
- Construction Machinery Sales Representative
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
- Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
- Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
- Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
- Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
- Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.
- Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Persuasion
- Active Listening
- Negotiation
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Service Orientation
- Coordination
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Fluency of Ideas
- Problem Sensitivity
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Perseverance
- Social Orientation
- Self-Confidence
- Achievement Orientation
- Dependability
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Apache Hadoop
- Google Analytics
- Google Workspace software
- HubSpot software
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Linux
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Azure software
Tools & Equipment
- Laptop computers
- Personal computers
- Personal digital assistants PDA
- Tablet computers
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $48,840 |
| Median | $100,070 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $194,890 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 293,930
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $66,780
Sales Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $121,520
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: Varies
Industrial Production Managers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $121,440
Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $100,070
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.