What is a Sales Manager?
Example of Sales Manager Job Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
Life As a Sales Manager: What Do They Do?
- Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures.
- Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
- Determine price schedules and discount rates.
- Represent company at trade association meetings to promote products.
- Visit franchised dealers to stimulate interest in establishment or expansion of leasing programs.
- Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate or other subjects of sale.
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Sales Manager Skills
Sales Managers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Types of Sales Manager
- National Sales Manager
- International Trade Specialist
- Zone Manager
- Sales Administrator
- Car Dealer
What Kind of Sales Manager Job Opportunities Are There?
There were about 385,500 jobs for Sales Manager in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 28,900 new jobs for Sales Manager by 2026. There will be an estimated 36,300 positions for Sales Manager per year.
The states with the most job growth for Sales Manager are Utah, Nevada, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Sales Manager Average Salary
The salary for Sales Managers ranges between about $58,940 and $208,000 a year.
Sales Managers who work in New York, Delaware, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Sales Managers in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $115,750 |
| Alaska | $109,210 |
| Arizona | $113,430 |
| Arkansas | $119,090 |
| California | $134,010 |
| Colorado | $160,320 |
| Connecticut | $152,760 |
| Delaware | $174,940 |
| District of Columbia | $132,870 |
| Florida | $125,050 |
| Georgia | $140,820 |
| Hawaii | $101,480 |
| Idaho | $103,780 |
| Illinois | $131,400 |
| Indiana | $129,020 |
| Iowa | $117,170 |
| Kansas | $147,230 |
| Kentucky | $121,260 |
| Louisiana | $106,850 |
| Maine | $121,130 |
| Maryland | $147,530 |
| Massachusetts | $151,010 |
| Michigan | $142,340 |
| Minnesota | $132,420 |
| Mississippi | $108,100 |
| Missouri | $133,570 |
| Nebraska | $107,030 |
| New Hampshire | $152,120 |
| New Jersey | $168,950 |
| New Mexico | $105,240 |
| New York | $198,390 |
| North Carolina | $147,690 |
| North Dakota | $108,500 |
| Ohio | $134,600 |
| Oklahoma | $111,360 |
| Oregon | $126,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $151,620 |
| Rhode Island | $161,970 |
| South Carolina | $118,750 |
| South Dakota | $128,760 |
| Tennessee | $111,700 |
| Texas | $148,000 |
| Utah | $122,190 |
| Vermont | $140,260 |
| Virginia | $170,760 |
| Washington | $140,700 |
| West Virginia | $102,280 |
| Wisconsin | $135,940 |
| Wyoming | $117,350 |
What Tools do Sales Managers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Sales Managers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Structured query language SQL
- Microsoft Dynamics
- SAS
- IBM Notes
How to Become a Sales Manager
Learn what Sales Manager education requirements there are.
What work experience do I need to become a Sales Manager?
Who Employs Sales Managers?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
Image Credit: Mike Moore via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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