Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Also called: Account Representative, Account Specialist, Agricultural Produce Commission Agent, Apparel Trimmings Sales Representative, Architectural Supplies Sales Representative, Artists Materials Sales Representative, Barber and Beauty Equipment Sales Representative, Barber and Beauty Supplies Sales Representative
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals.
What Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products do
Typical 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.
- Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.
- Prepare sales contracts and order forms.
- Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.
- Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices, and sales.
- Perform administrative duties, such as preparing sales budgets and reports, keeping sales records, and filing expense account reports.
- Contact regular and prospective customers to demonstrate products, explain product features, and solicit orders.
- Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations and clubs, and attending trade shows and conferences.
- Negotiate with retail merchants to improve product exposure, such as shelf positioning and advertising.
- Check stock levels and reorder merchandise as necessary.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products salary
The median annual wage for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products is $72,080 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $39,090 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $137,550. The mean annual wage is $82,530.
The mean hourly wage of $39.00 is 5.4× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $72,080 → in 3 years $78,300 → in 5 years $82,700 → in 10 years $94,900 (10-year range $81,600–$110,100). The model assumes pay growth of +2.8% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products United States | 食品営業（食品メーカー） Japan | 商社営業 Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $72,080 | ¥6.61M ≈ $42,016 | ¥6.61M ≈ $42,016 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $94,900 | ¥8.66M | ¥8.47M |
| Outlook score | 43 | 57 | 55 |
| AI replacement risk | 46% Moderate | 39% Low | 55% Moderate |
| Workers | 1.2M | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★☆☆☆ Fairly easy (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.