What is a district sales manager and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become a District Sales Manager?

It takes 7 years of professional experience to become a district sales manager. That is the time it takes to learn specific district sales manager skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 10 to 12 years years to become a district sales manager.

Q: Do district managers make good money?

Yes, district managers make good money. A district manager averages $88,023 a year. However, there is a good deal of variability in how much a district manager can earn. It can range from as low as $57,000 a year to as high as $135,000 a year. Factors such as the number of years of experience, the type of company, and location all impact how much a district manager may earn.

Q: How many years does it take to become a sales manager?

It takes 3 to 5 years to become a sales manager. A sales manager is expected to have some formal education, as well as some work experience. Most sales managers have a bachelor's degree in management, marketing; accounting; finance; economics; or statistics. In some cases having an associate's degree with an adequate amount of work experience is all that is needed.

Q: What education is needed to become a sales manager?

The education needed to be a sales manager is typically a bachelor's degree, although some positions may only require an associate's degree or even a high school diploma. The less formal education, the more work experience will be needed to land a sales manager position.

Q: What is meant by district sales manager?

A district sales manager is a manager who oversees sales activities within a defined territory and manages sales representatives and distributors. A district sales manager is typically responsible for recruiting and training sales personnel, managing district sales operations, and evaluating employee performance.

Q: What is the work of a district sales manager?

The main responsibility of a district sales manager is to establish sales goals and create programs to meet these goals. A district sales manager must align sales goals with company objectives and implement strategies to increase revenue.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Bill Thorne,

Kerem Cakirer Ph.D.

A district sales manager manages sales teams in a specific geographic area. They are tasked with developing sales strategies, setting goals, and monitoring performance. They also recruit and mentor sales representatives to ensure they meet their targets. Additionally, they collaborate with other departments such as marketing and product development to identify new opportunities and improve products. Strong communication, leadership, and analytical skills are essential for success in this role.

What general advice would you give to a district sales manager?

Bill Thorne

Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation

Retail is the largest private-sector employer in the country, directly employing 32 million people and supporting 52 million jobs overall - roughly one-quarter of the U.S. workforce. While COVID-19 has presented new and unexpected challenges, retailers have continued to showcase the industry's resilience and adaptability time and again. The safety and security of customers and employees remains our greatest priority. It is no doubt that the professional environment has changed this year, but retail continues to offer a plethora of career opportunities for graduates and seasoned veterans alike.

ScoreDistrict Sales ManagerUS Average

Salary

6.4

Avg. Salary $81,505

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.4

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 4.07%

Black or African American 3.24%

Hispanic or Latino 9.82%

Unknown 4.41%

White 78.23%

Gender

female 27.47%

male 72.53%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a district sales manager?

Pros

Opportunity to develop leadership and management skills
Potential for career advancement within the company
Opportunities for networking and building relationships with clients and industry professionals
Exposure to a range of industries and sectors
Opportunity to work with innovative products or services

Cons

Long hours and frequent travel may be required
Constantly changing market conditions can impact sales performance
Difficulties in meeting revenue and profit targets during economic downturns
Can be stressful when dealing with difficult customers or clients
Need to maintain up-to-date knowledge about products, services, and market trends

Key steps to become a district sales manager

Explore district sales manager education requirements

Most common district sales manager degrees

Bachelor's

75.6 %

Associate

10.7 %

Master's

7.4 %

Start to develop specific district sales manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	15.99%
Patients	9.70%
Home Health	8.43%
Product Knowledge	5.33%
Rehabilitation	5.08%

Complete relevant district sales manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New district sales managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a district sales manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real district sales manager resumes.

Research district sales manager duties and responsibilities

Prospect and cold-cal commercial locations, building relationships with distributors and manufacturer representatives to leverage internal leads.
Manage a team of sales executives to establish and maintain professional relationships with healthcare professionals in their prospective territories.
Maintain expert knowledge of all Medicare products.
Track sales and CRM functions using Salesforce.com.

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