Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
Sales Managers
Sales Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
Table of contents
What they do
Sales Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
- Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate or other subjects of sale.
- Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
- Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
- Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Sales Managers direct clerical staff to keep records of export correspondence, bid requests, and credit collections, and to maintain current information on tariffs, licenses, and restrictions. They oversee regional and local sales managers and their staff.
A typical day for a Sales Manager will also include:
- Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate or other subjects of sale.
- Direct, coordinate, and review activities in sales and service accounting and record-keeping, and in receiving and shipping operations.
- Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
- Assess marketing potential of new and existing store locations, considering statistics and expenditures.
- Determine price schedules and discount rates.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Sales Managers also review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability. They may also confer or consult with department heads to plan advertising services and to secure information on equipment and customer specifications.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Sales Managers resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service. They might also direct, coordinate, and review activities in sales and service accounting and record-keeping, and in receiving and shipping operations.
In addition, they confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them represent the company at trade association meetings to promote products.
To some Sales Managers, it is also their responsibility to oversee regional and local sales managers and their staff.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
75% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.
I’m working as a sales manager with Abraham Roofing. We work in the roofing and flooring industry. My Typical Day I’m responsible for all day-to-day activities in our store. I have to oversee new roofing designs, I have to make sure our inventory levels are always correct, I have to find new ways to attract … Read More
I’m Damian, the Sales Manager of an E-Commerce company called Adult Diapers 365. I have been working in this role for 2 years now, and can say that my journey has been one topsy-turvy ride! So much to do; so little time. Responding to customer queries My Typical Day My typical day at work is … Read More
Keep in mind, as a sales manager, your job is to enable your sales team – not to close deals. My Typical Day A typical day is fully built around helping your team members succeed, and that falls into 3 major chunks: coaching your team members, removing barriers for them, and admin work. Coaching your … Read More
I work for a relatively small company, so as a Sales Manager, I will do a lot of direct selling work. This is very common with small to medium-sized businesses (the head of sales is still swelling and working with clients). I spend a lot of my day in meetings, so this may not be … Read More
My name is Mark Beneke. I am the co-owner and previous sales/finance manager of two buy-here-pay-here used car dealerships, Westland Auto Sales, in Fresno, CA. We’ve been in business since 2007 and specialize in providing quality vehicles and financing to people with less-than-stellar credit. I overlooked the hiring, training, management of salespeople, and desking of … Read More
My typical day My alarm goes off at 6am and I hit the gym before work. I check my emails before arriving at work to see what the day has already got in store. If I’m working in the office, I then arrive and work through my emails and existing client accounts. As a Sales … Read More
Morning I start my mornings responding to customer emails and follow-up calls. By 9am I’m usually working on the following projects: Coaching my sales team on how to optimize their work efforts Developing marketing programs to increase Sandbar’s brand awareness and increase new leads (customer inquiries) Revising proposals for customers that I’m working with directly … Read More
I work as a networking/sales agent between our event venue partners and clients who are looking to book a venue for a variety of different reasons. It contains a lot of working with a variety of different nationalities. The multicultural and intense work environment is something I love. Concerning specific tasks. I email and call … Read More
I spent 18 years working in FMCG, in infant nutrition for a major European organic producer as Head of Sales for their Eastern Division (Eastern Europe, Near East, Asia). Working in international sales and business development means that there’s almost no such thing as a typical day. There are office days and there are field … Read More
My name is Joseph Giranda and I’m the Director of Commercial Relations at CFR Rinkens, a global leader in the shipping of commercial cargo, specializing in the containerized shipping of motor vehicles. The shipping industry has many different aspects to it, and what your day looks like will vary by department. Our sales team handles … Read More
Pros
Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
Suitable for people who want independence and like to work on their own and make decisions.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the highest-paid careers in the world.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Sales Managers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $63,170 to $89,720 per year or $30 to $43 per hour.
Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Highest (Top 10%) | $208,000+ | $100+ |
Senior (Top 25%) | $185,200 | $89 |
Median | $132,290 | $64 |
Junior (Bottom 25%) | $89,720 | $43 |
No experience (Bottom 10%) | $63,170 | $30 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Sales Managers based on their average annual salary.
Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
---|---|---|
Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | $218700 | $105.14 |
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | $214310 | $103.03 |
Scientific Research and Development Services | $197170 | $94.80 |
Cable and Other Subscription Programming | $188820 | $90.78 |
Motion Picture and Video Industries | $187680 | $90.23 |
Other Information Services | $187250 | $90.03 |
Credit Intermediation and Related Activities | $176560 | $84.88 |
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $174760 | $84.02 |
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | $174150 | $83.72 |
Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | $174080 | $83.69 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Sales Managers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Sales Managers including the average salary in that industry.
Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
---|---|---|---|
Management of Companies and Enterprises | 28190 | $161050 | $77.43 |
Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 23780 | $170900 | $82.16 |
Automobile Dealers | 22010 | $132980 | $63.93 |
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | 17380 | $146400 | $70.38 |
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | 14130 | $133270 | $64.07 |
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | 13260 | $155050 | $74.54 |
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 10260 | $164480 | $79.08 |
Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers | 10000 | $154510 | $74.28 |
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities | 8780 | $214310 | $103.03 |
Insurance Carriers | 8600 | $170690 | $82.06 |
What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Marketing/Marketing Management
Business/Commerce
Business Administration and Management
Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management
Consumer Merchandising/Retailing Management
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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