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Careers in Sales

Careers in Sales

If you’re considering a career in sales, you might be struggling to know exactly what type of sales job would be right for you. Professional sales is a wonderful profession, appealing to all types of personalities and skill sets, and can be found across an array of industries. The most difficult task for a new student of sales might be determining where you best fit in.

In this overview, we discuss the 13 best types of sales jobs – from entry to executive level. We will examine what they do, the skills and experience required, salaries, and how they contribute to the business.

1. Sales Development Representative (SDR)

A sales development representative (SDR) is in charge of lead generation and moving leads through the sales pipeline.

SDRs spend much of their time looking for potential leads, cold calling and emailing them, and qualifying them to make sure the product they’re selling matches the prospect’s budget, needs, and timing.

Salary: The average base salary for an SDR in the United States is $44,680, according to PayScale. SDRs can also get bonuses up to $24,000 and commissions up to $25,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

The drive to solve problems
Excellent communication skills
Confidence in conducting strategic research, lead generation, and outreach
Great time management and organization
Ability to work independently

2. Inside Sales Representative

An inside sales representative sells products and services remotely rather than face-to-face. Inside sales can be called virtual or remote sales because reps use emails, phone calls, video calls, and more to move a lead toward the sale and beyond.

Salary: The average base salary for an inside sales representative in the United States is $44,717, according to PayScale. They can also get bonuses up to $15,000 and commission up to $29,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

Ability to pick up verbal and audible cues on sales calls
Strong communication and relationship-building skills
Drive to consistently improve product knowledge
Great task prioritization and time management

3. Outside Sales Representative

An outside sales representative sells products and services through face-to-face meetings. They meet prospects at trade shows, industry events, offices, restaurants, or even door-to-door.

Salary: The average base salary for an outside sales rep in the United States is $49,985, according to PayScale. They can also get bonuses up to $30,000 and commission up to $47,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

Great at picking up body language cues
Comfortable setting their own schedule and working autonomously
Highly organized
Willing to work with fewer but higher-value leads

4. Account Executive (AE)

An account executive (AE) is responsible for the entire sales cycle, from lead generation to closing deals and beyond. They ensure customer satisfaction and long-term relationships.

Salary: The average base salary for an account executive is $54,898 in the United States. AEs can also get bonuses up to $40,000 and commission up to $52,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

Well-versed in all parts of the sales process
Excellent at building and maintaining relationships
Deeply knowledgeable about market needs and trends
Diligent in tracking account details and using sales insights

5. Account Manager

An account manager builds and maintains long-term relationships with customers, overseeing key stakeholders and seeking new sales opportunities.

Salary: The average base salary for an account manager in the United States is $55,247. They can also get bonuses up to $20,000 and commission up to $37,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

Strong listening, presentation, and negotiation skills
Experience handling multiple accounts simultaneously
Proficiency in sales forecasting and reporting
Ability to identify new opportunities with existing customers

6. Sales Manager

A sales manager leads their team to meet sales goals. They hire, train, and motivate sales reps while building strategic sales plans.

Salary: The average base salary for a sales manager is $61,629 in the United States. They can also earn bonuses up to $32,000 and commission up to $59,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

Ability to recruit, mentor, and motivate sales reps
Effective goal-setting and planning
Strong sales forecasting and reporting skills
Excellent communication and presentation skills

7. Customer Success Manager (CSM)

A customer success manager (CSM) acts as a liaison between the company and its customers, ensuring a smooth onboarding and long-term relationships.

Salary: The average base salary for a CSM is $68,812 in the United States. They can also get bonuses up to $24,000 and commission up to $31,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

Strong customer service and troubleshooting skills
Leadership and training experience
Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Technical aptitude

8. Sales Engineer

A sales engineer sells technical products, providing in-depth knowledge and demonstrations to potential clients.

Salary: The average base salary for a sales engineer is $73,567 in the United States. They can also earn bonuses up to $28,000 and commission up to $42,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

Relevant technical degree or experience in engineering, IT, or applied science
Exceptional problem-solving and presentation skills
Strong collaboration and communication skills
In-depth understanding of the sales process

9. Sales Operations Manager

A sales operations manager optimizes sales processes, tools, and technologies to improve efficiency.

Salary: The average base salary for a sales operations manager is $79,036 in the United States. They can also get bonuses up to $20,000 and commission up to $37,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

CRM expertise
Strong analytical and strategic thinking
Effective communication and leadership skills

10. Regional Sales Manager

A regional sales manager oversees sales activities in a specific geographic region.

Salary: The average base salary for a regional sales manager is $82,615 in the United States. They can also earn bonuses up to $39,000 and commission up to $50,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

Deep knowledge of the target market and competitors
Strong leadership and motivational skills
Sales reporting and forecasting expertise

11. Director of Sales

A director of sales oversees and trains sales teams while developing strategies to meet company sales goals.

Salary: The average base salary for a director of sales is $100,774 in the United States. They can also earn bonuses up to $51,000 and commission up to $72,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

Proven track record in sales leadership
Strategic sales process development skills
Strong mentorship and relationship-building abilities

12. Vice President (VP) of Sales

A VP of sales sets sales goals and strategies, working closely with directors and other executives.

Salary: The average base salary for a VP of sales is $143,311 in the United States. They can also earn bonuses up to $89,000 and commission up to $102,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

Extensive experience in sales leadership
Strong strategic mindset and decision-making skills
Excellent communication and mentorship abilities

13. Chief Sales Officer (CSO)

A chief sales officer (CSO) is the highest-ranking sales executive in a company, overseeing all sales functions.

Salary: The average base salary for a CSO is $170,567 in the United States. They can also earn bonuses up to $100,000 and commission up to $175,000.

Ideal candidate qualities:

Strong change management and strategic planning expertise

Deep analytical skills for market and performance analysis

Exceptional leadership and communication abilities

“A Complete List of All The Types of Sales Jobs” Pipedrive Blog, https://www.pipedrive.com/en/blog/types-of-sales-jobs.