Occupation · SOC 41-4012
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 wage
$66,780
$37,860–$134,470
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
1,266,860
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
136 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessPersuasionNegotiationCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionWriting
Knowledge areas
Sales and MarketingCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageMathematicsTransportation
Technology & tools
Word processing softwareCustomer relationship management CRM softwareDocument management softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareWeb page creation and editing software
Representative 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.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Customer inquiries about product pricing, availability, and uses — address accurately using provided reference materials and price sheets under supervisor guidance in a wholesale or manufacturing sales environment.Product recommendations — formulate and present to prospective customers based on stated needs and interests, following established sales scripts and protocols with direct oversight.Price quotes and delivery date estimates — prepare and communicate to customers using standard company templates and pricing tools under direction from a senior sales representative.Sales contracts and order forms — complete and submit accurately using CRM software and document management systems following step-by-step procedural guidelines.Product samples and catalogs — distribute to prospective customers during sales calls or trade visits, explaining key features under the guidance of an experienced team member.Market conditions and competitor product information — gather and report observations to the sales team using structured monitoring templates provided by management.Sales records and expense account reports — maintain and file using word processing and CRM software in compliance with company administrative procedures.Post-sale client communication — conduct initial follow-up calls to resolve routine problems and confirm order status, escalating complex issues to senior representatives.Customer relationship management software — enter and update contact records, sales activities, and order notes consistently to support team pipeline visibility.Credit terms and warranty information — explain clearly to customers by referencing approved company documentation during supervised sales interactions.
developing
Customer questions about products, pricing, and credit terms — respond confidently and independently across a growing account portfolio, drawing on accumulated product knowledge in a wholesale distribution or manufacturing sales setting.Product recommendations — develop and deliver tailored to individual customer needs and purchasing history, applying consultative selling techniques with minimal supervisory oversight.Price quotes, contract terms, and delivery schedules — estimate and negotiate within established authority limits, balancing customer expectations and company margin requirements on routine deals.Sales contracts and order forms — prepare, review, and manage end-to-end for standard transactions, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company policies and client agreements.Post-sale client consultations — conduct proactively to resolve service issues and reinforce relationships, identifying upsell or cross-sell opportunities within an existing customer base.Market and competitor intelligence — monitor systematically using trade publications, CRM data, and industry contacts, summarizing findings in regular reports for the sales team.Sales budgets, activity reports, and performance metrics — prepare and analyze using CRM dashboards and spreadsheet tools to track progress against individual quota targets.Product samples, catalogs, and digital presentation materials — curate and deliver effectively during in-person and virtual sales calls to advance opportunities through the pipeline.Presentation software and web-based tools — use to create and deliver professional sales presentations tailored to mid-market customer segments.Time management across a multi-account territory — apply structured planning techniques to prioritize high-value customer interactions and administrative responsibilities efficiently.
proficient
Complex customer inquiries spanning pricing strategy, contract customization, and product application — resolve autonomously by applying deep product expertise and market knowledge across a full territory of wholesale or manufacturing accounts.Strategic product recommendations — design and present to sophisticated buyers and procurement committees, aligning solutions to detailed operational and financial requirements.Multi-variable price and contract negotiations — lead independently, structuring terms, warranties, and delivery conditions to close high-value deals while protecting company profitability.Non-routine post-sale issues and escalated client concerns — manage end-to-end, coordinating internally with logistics, finance, and product teams to deliver lasting solutions and retain accounts.Territory sales forecasting and budget planning — develop with analytical rigor using CRM data, historical trends, and market signals to set realistic and ambitious revenue targets.Competitive landscape and product innovation trends — analyze continuously and translate into actionable positioning strategies that differentiate offerings in crowded market segments.Full suite of sales technology — operate proficiently, including CRM software, database query tools, and presentation platforms, to streamline workflows and extract decision-relevant insights.Sales documentation ecosystem — oversee comprehensively, ensuring contracts, order records, compliance files, and expense reports meet regulatory and organizational standards without error.Customer trust and long-term partnerships — cultivate through consistent consultative engagement, demonstrating service orientation and social perceptiveness that reduce churn and grow account value.Judgment on credit risk and contract exceptions — exercise independently by evaluating customer financials and deal context, escalating only the most unusual cases to senior leadership.
advanced
Regional or national sales strategy — define and execute across a multi-representative organization, aligning territory design, pricing authority, and account prioritization to enterprise revenue goals in the wholesale and manufacturing sector.Sales talent development — lead by coaching emerging and developing representatives in consultative selling, negotiation, and CRM best practices, raising team-wide performance standards.Complex, high-stakes contract negotiations with major accounts — direct at the executive level, structuring long-term supply agreements that balance strategic partnerships with sustainable margin outcomes.Sales forecasting and budget allocation frameworks — establish for the entire sales organization, integrating CRM analytics, market intelligence, and financial modeling to drive accurate planning cycles.Competitive positioning and go-to-market strategy — architect by synthesizing market trend analysis, product innovation pipelines, and voice-of-customer data into differentiated value propositions.Cross-functional alignment between sales, marketing, logistics, and finance — orchestrate to ensure seamless customer experience from initial engagement through post-sale support at organizational scale.Sales performance measurement systems — design and implement using advanced CRM reporting, database analytics, and KPI dashboards that create accountability and surface improvement opportunities across the team.Organizational culture of customer service orientation and achievement — model and reinforce through leadership behaviors, recognition programs, and performance coaching that sustain high engagement.Strategic key account relationships at the C-suite level — manage personally, serving as the senior executive sponsor who ensures retention of the organization's most critical wholesale clients.Sales technology infrastructure and process innovation — evaluate, select, and champion adoption of new tools — including CRM platforms, presentation software, and document management systems — that scale team capability and competitive advantage.
Also known as
162 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
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