All About Sales Managers
Sales Manager Example 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.
A Day in the Life of a Sales Manager
- Represent company at trade association meetings to promote products.
- Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
- Advise dealers and distributors on policies and operating procedures to ensure functional effectiveness of business.
- Direct, coordinate, and review activities in sales and service accounting and record-keeping, and in receiving and shipping operations.
- Assess marketing potential of new and existing store locations, considering statistics and expenditures.
- Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
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What Every Sales Manager Should Know
These are the skills Sales Managers say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Sales Administrator
- Dealership Manager
- Division Head
- Commercial Director
- Regional Sales Manager
Is There Going to be Demand for Sales Managers?
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 36,300 job openings in this field each 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.
Salary for a Sales Manager
The typical yearly salary for Sales Managers is somewhere between $58,940 and $208,000.
Sales Managers who work in New York, Delaware, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Sales Managers make in each U.S. state?
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?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Sales Managers:
- 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
Becoming a Sales Manager
Are there Sales Managers education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Sales Manager?
Sales Managers Sector
The table below shows the approximate number of Sales Managers employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Mike Moore via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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