Q: How long does it take to become a sales representative?

It takes no time to become a sales representative. An entry-level sales representative position is available to anyone with a high school diploma and several months of training. While there are no formal requirements in place to become a sales rep, there are steps that sales representatives need to take to become more skilled in their position.

Q: How much do outside sales reps make?

Outside sales reps make approximately $77,600 per year. This salary fluctuates with the experience of the sales representative as well as the pay structure of their company. Experienced sales representatives are able to command a higher salary or better commission percentages, and their salaries can exceed $350,000 per year. The average tenure of a sales representative is one to three years.

Question 1

Can I be a sales rep without a degree?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can be a sales representative without a college degree. There are no formal educational requirements for becoming a sales rep.

However, most employers require that potential sales representatives have a high school diploma. Once hired, representatives will typically undergo on-the-job training.

Question 2

How are outside sales reps paid?

Accepted Answer

Outside sales representatives are paid in a variety of ways, some of which involve salary, commission, or both.

Sales representatives that work on commission only can earn large amounts of money based on their sales. A typical commission is 20 to 40% of a salesman's gross sales. There are no limits on how much the representative can make, but there is pressure to sell as one's entire income is sales-dependent.

Question 3

How long does it take to become a sales representative?

Accepted Answer

It takes no time to become a sales representative. An entry-level sales representative position is available to anyone with a high school diploma and several months of training.

While there are no formal requirements in place to become a sales rep, there are steps that sales representatives need to take to become more skilled in their position.

Question 4

What is your role as a sales representative?

Accepted Answer

Your role as a sales representative is to promote and service a company's products. There are several specific responsibilities important to all sales representatives relating to customer contact and service.

Question 5

What qualifications does a sales rep need?

Accepted Answer

While there are no formal qualifications, a sales representative should be an individual who is highly motivated, organized, and is comfortable with meeting quotas.

Above all, a prospective sales representative should be a good communicator. Listening to customer needs and being able to clearly explain the benefits of a product are crucial to success.

Question 6

What is a good starting salary for an Outside Sales Representative?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for an outside sales representative is $39,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for an outside sales representative in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for outside sales representatives is $57,580, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for an outside sales representative can vary by state.

Question 7

How much does the average sales rep make?

Accepted Answer

The average sales representative makes approximately $64,000 per year. There are several important factors that influence the salary of a sales representative.

If a sales representative is working outside of an office and brokering deals in person, they tend to make 15% to 18% more than sales reps that work in an office. Outside sales representatives make an average of $77,600 per year.

Question 8

What is a good base salary for sales?

Accepted Answer

A good base salary for a sales representative is approximately $55,000 to $80,000 per year. Base salaries are dependent on the type of sales, the experience of the representative, and the size of the employer.

Question 9

Can an outside sales representative make 100k?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as an outside sales representative. While possible, it is unlikely to earn over $100k as an outside sales representative because even higher-paid positions do not typically earn more than $84,000 per year. The average annual salary for an outside sales representative is $57,580.

Question 10

How much do outside sales reps make?

Accepted Answer

Outside sales reps make approximately $77,600 per year. This salary fluctuates with the experience of the sales representative as well as the pay structure of their company.

Experienced sales representatives are able to command a higher salary or better commission percentages, and their salaries can exceed $350,000 per year. The average tenure of a sales representative is one to three years.

Question 11

Is outside sales rep a good career?

Accepted Answer

Yes, outside sales is a very good career to enter into. Skilled salespeople are always sought after and earn good salaries.

There are very few requirements for someone seeking an entry-level position in outside sales. Typically only a high school diploma is required since employers will typically train candidates in both sales techniques and the specific information relating to their product(s).

Question 12

What are the best outside sales jobs?

Accepted Answer

The best outside sales jobs are associated with larger, high-profile companies. These jobs span industries from pharmaceutical companies to technology.

Outside sales positions with larger companies afford the sales representative the opportunity to service larger accounts. Over 72% of the sales force of companies doing over 500 million dollars in business are outside salespeople.

Question 13

What is outside sales vs. inside sales?

Accepted Answer

The difference between outside sales and inside sales lies in the sales approach. Outside sales representatives travel and meet customers in person, whereas inside sales representatives largely use the phone and email to sell remotely.

Question 14

What percentage of Outside Sales Representatives are female?

Accepted Answer

29.3% of outside sales representatives are female in the United States. This is -0.8 percentage points lower than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female outside sales representatives has increased by 1.8 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 303,547 female outside sales representatives in the U.S. and 732,450 male outside sales representatives in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 1,035,997 people with the specific job title of outside sales representative and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 15

How do you describe a sales representative job on a resume?

Accepted Answer

You describe a sales representative job on a resume under work experience and when showcasing your skills and achievements in sales. As a sales representative, you understand how important it is to set the tone for the customer. Your resume should be no different when impressing the hiring manager.

Question 16

How do you describe outside sales on a resume?

Accepted Answer

You describe outside sales on a resume by highlighting your experience, skills, and most important accomplishments. As someone in outside sales, you know you have only a few seconds to make a good impression.

Question 17

How would you describe your outside sales experience?

Accepted Answer

You describe outside sales experience as someone who works in the field selling products and services to various people and institutions.

Also known as field sales representatives, outside sales representatives' experience includes activities related to closing sales through face-to-face interaction with customers based within assigned sales territories.

Question 18

What is an example of outside sales?

Accepted Answer

An example of outside sales includes cold calling customers to arrange meetings, presenting customers with products and educating them on features, working with retailers, and reporting sales targets to leadership.

Frequently asked questions about outside sales representatives

Questions about becoming an outside sales representative