Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products: 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.
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The Daily Work of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Perform?
The core tasks performed by sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products 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.
- Emphasize product features, based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.
What Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Need to Know
Top sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- 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
How Many Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Are There?
The U.S. employs around 341,078 sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -3.7% over the projection horizon.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $39,468 |
| Hourly median | $18.98 |
| 10th percentile | $25,433 |
| 25th percentile | $32,450 |
| 75th percentile | $46,486 |
| 90th percentile | $53,504 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $134,240 |
| New York | $132,410 |
| Colorado | $132,010 |
| Washington | $130,470 |
| West Virginia | $126,770 |
| California | $123,980 |
| Kansas | $123,560 |
| Hawaii | $120,490 |
| North Dakota | $119,610 |
| Florida | $113,730 |
| Virginia | $112,190 |
| Illinois | $110,420 |
| Michigan | $108,740 |
| Louisiana | $106,860 |
| North Carolina | $105,640 |
| South Dakota | $104,060 |
| Georgia | $103,920 |
| Oregon | $103,760 |
| Iowa | $102,740 |
| Delaware | $101,990 |
| Indiana | $101,000 |
| Rhode Island | $99,870 |
| Massachusetts | $98,350 |
| Wyoming | $97,830 |
| Minnesota | $96,470 |
| Nevada | $96,260 |
| Vermont | $95,900 |
| South Carolina | $95,460 |
| Ohio | $95,420 |
| Connecticut | $94,990 |
| New Hampshire | $94,150 |
| Missouri | $92,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,860 |
| Idaho | $88,170 |
| District of Columbia | $87,170 |
| Utah | $84,340 |
| Texas | $83,860 |
| Arizona | $83,220 |
| Tennessee | $83,110 |
| Kentucky | $82,860 |
| Montana | $81,270 |
| Wisconsin | $79,640 |
| Nebraska | $78,790 |
| Mississippi | $78,690 |
| New Mexico | $77,900 |
| Oklahoma | $77,050 |
| Maryland | $76,920 |
| Maine | $76,100 |
| Alaska | $63,470 |
| Arkansas | $59,880 |
| Puerto Rico | $59,820 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $121,623 | 14.1% | 0.93 |
| Middle Atlantic | $111,095 | 9.6% | 0.66 |
| Rocky Mountains | $102,858 | 3.3% | 0.92 |
| Great Lakes | $101,110 | 12.2% | 0.87 |
| Southeast | $99,527 | 24.3% | 1.08 |
| Plains States | $98,960 | 6.7% | 1.04 |
| New England | $96,143 | 5.8% | 1.33 |
| Southwest | $83,244 | 23.7% | 1.94 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheyenne, WY | WY | $168,990 | |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $161,510 | 3,020 |
| Rochester, MN | MN | $156,910 | 180 |
| Morgantown, WV | WV | $150,190 | 30 |
| Rochester, NY | NY | $142,590 | 810 |
| Columbus, IN | IN | $139,790 | 150 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $138,240 | 7,720 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | MI | $137,570 | 710 |
Which Industries Hire Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
The largest employers of sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale Trade | 171,180 | $100,680 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 41,600 | $99,620 |
| Manufacturing | 32,460 | $102,090 |
| Information | 24,690 | $104,060 |
| Retail Trade | 5,230 | $66,660 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 5,190 | $99,970 |
| Construction | 3,520 | $75,630 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,660 | $76,570 |
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products work in the following industries:
Software Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Amazon Web Services AWS software (hot technology)
- Data base management system software: Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- Data mining software: Google Analytics (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Google Workspace software (hot technology)
- Sales and marketing software: HubSpot software (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Accounting software: Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Microsoft Azure software (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Contact With Others
Education and Training
Most sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Industrial Production Managers (Primary-Short)
- Purchasing Managers (Primary-Long)
- Supply Chain Managers (Supplemental)
- Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products (Primary-Short)
- Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products (Primary-Long)
- Logisticians (Supplemental)
- Industrial Engineers (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Students preparing for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products often complete programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 41-4011.00 (Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products).
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