How much do route sales reps make?

Route sales reps make approximately $42,000 per year, and also earn an average of $3,600 each year in bonuses and added incentives. The top 10% of route sales reps make around $49,000 nationally, while the entry-level positions bring in approximately $37,000 per year.

What training do you need to be a sales representative?

The training needed to be a sales representative is usually provided by the employer. Most companies require their sales representatives to have a high school diploma. Some companies may seek out candidates who have completed a technical program or have an earned associate's or bachelor's degree, depending on the type of sales representative position.

How To Become A Route Sales Representative: What It Is and Career Path

What is a route sales representative and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

If you're a top-notch salesperson who doesn't mind travelling, then you might make the perfect route sales representative. As a route sales representative, you'll drive to different locations to sell products to customers. To be successful at your job, you'll need to develop strategies that help you meet targets and maintain a growing client base.

You'll need to feel comfortable being on the road since a large proportion of your time will be spent driving to a different location. In addition to making sales, some of the tasks you'll perform on the job include evaluating customers' needs, forecasting sales, attending sales events and conferences, and producing sales reports.

If you're thinking of becoming a route sales representative, you should have a friendly and confident manner, good personal presentation, and excellent communication skills. In addition, you'll need to be able to work without direct supervision and have extensive knowledge of the products and services you're selling.

Typically, you'll only need a high school diploma or equivalent education. Most employers look for a high-energy individual who is innovative, creative and has a positive attitude.

ScoreRoute Sales RepresentativeUS Average

Salary

3.5

Avg. Salary $44,918

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.2

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.82%

Asian 3.82%

Black or African American 11.64%

Hispanic or Latino 18.83%

Unknown 4.78%

White 60.10%

Gender

female 8.34%

male 91.66%

Age - 49

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 - 49

Stress level

8.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.8

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.9

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a route sales representative

Explore route sales representative education requirements

Most common route sales representative degrees

Bachelor's

36.9 %

High School Diploma

30.1 %

Associate

21.7 %

Start to develop specific route sales representative skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	16.90%
DOT	15.94%
Strong Customer Service	11.90%
Customer Accounts	7.72%
Work Ethic	6.62%

Research route sales representative duties and responsibilities

Manage invoice collection and customer issues.
Drive CDL rate truck over assign territory.
Complete route in timely manner via CDL truck.
Utilize math skills to process payments while on route.

Prepare your route sales representative resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your route sales representative resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a route sales representative resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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