Sales Representatives earn $72,080 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $50,470 and $99,640. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.
Also known as:
Sales Representatives earn $72,080 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $50,470 and $99,640. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
Above the national median for college graduates.
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
The mean wage for this occupation is $82,530, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Sales Representatives roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
The BLS projects +0.3% employment change for Sales Representatives through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 114,800 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
Slower than average.
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
The five states below employ the most Sales Representatives professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $72,080 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 141,300 | $73,920 | +2.6% |
| 2 | Florida | 92,370 | $60,330 | -16.3% |
| 3 | Texas | 91,290 | $63,570 | -11.8% |
| 4 | New York | 67,050 | $76,560 | +6.2% |
| 5 | Illinois | 58,080 | $65,210 | -9.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
Most Sales Representatives positions require a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify. The 3 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agricultural Business and Management | 8,085 | $66,647 | 380 |
| 2 | General Sales & Distribution | 5,965 | $75,399 | 342 |
| 3 | Specialized Sales | 4,322 | $59,631 | 190 |
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 3 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | 90 | $14,741 | $80,838 |
| 4 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | 89 | $14,355 | $81,054 |
| 5 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO | 88 | $6,100 | $41,592 |
| 6 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD | 88 | $15,678 | $82,860 |
Once you've sized up Sales Representatives, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
See if the degree that leads to Sales Representatives pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
The data on Sales Representatives shows 4 measurable strengths and 4 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
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