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Job outlook for sales coaches in the United States
Are sales coach jobs in demand?
Sales coach job and salary trends over time
Sales coach jobs over time
Sales coach job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,823 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,695 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,868 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,884 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,914 | 0.00% |
Average sales coach salary over time
Sales coach salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $56,159 | $27.00 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $54,498 | $26.20 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $53,525 | $25.73 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $52,067 | $25.03 | --1.3% |
| 2021 | $52,728 | $25.35 | +1.9% |
Sales coach jobs by state
Most common states for sales coaches
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 180 | 24% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 131 | 21% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 206 | 20% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 140 | 20% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 251 | 19% |
| 6 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 637 | 18% |
| 7 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 924 | 17% |
| 8 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 862 | 17% |
| 9 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,596 | 16% |
| 10 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 777 | 16% |
| 11 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 740 | 16% |
| 12 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,607 | 15% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,254 | 15% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,025 | 15% |
| 15 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 1,003 | 15% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 973 | 15% |
| 17 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 648 | 15% |
| 18 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 459 | 15% |
| 19 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 437 | 15% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 161 | 15% |
Most common cities for sales coaches
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 1 | 4% | $51,418 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $58,019 |
| 3 | Dover | 1 | 3% | $68,551 |
| 4 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $65,369 |
| 5 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $53,519 |
| 6 | Little Rock | 1 | 1% | $51,557 |
| 7 | Miami | 2 | 0% | $53,044 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $51,457 |
| 9 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $51,476 |
| 10 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $68,757 |
| 11 | Buffalo | 1 | 0% | $63,679 |
| 12 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $57,568 |
| 13 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $60,024 |
| 14 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $50,601 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $53,492 |
Sales Coach job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of sales coach experts
University of Southern Mississippi
Texas Christian University
Baylor University
Longwood University
Aquinas College
Montana State University
Michigan State University
Upper Iowa University
Fordham University
Western State College of Law
Western Oregon University
MHI – Material Handling Industry
What Sales Coach skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kevin Buckley: Adaptability - The sales environment is evolving rapidly with changes in buyer expectations, technologies, and go-to-market strategies. Successful salespeople will need to be highly adaptable, comfortable with change, and able to quickly adjust their approach as needed. Those stuck in outdated methods will struggle. Digital Selling - The ability to effectively sell through digital channels and virtual interactions is now table stakes. Mastering skills like virtual presentations, video marketing, social selling, and leveraging sales technology tools will separate the top performers. Buyers expect a seamless, digitally-enabled experience. Business Acumen - More than ever, salespeople need the ability to position their products/services as strategic solutions that tangibly impact the client's key objectives, financial metrics, and business outcomes. Knowing how to speak the language of business strategy is crucial for consultative selling.
What general advice would you give to a Sales Coach?
Derrek Schartz: Be agile and able to adapt. Sales has changed more of the last 20 years than over the previous 100. It's not your father's sales career. Over the last several decades the role of sales in most organizations has changed dramatically.
What Sales Coach skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Derrek Schartz: To maximize your total income in sales one must always be learning and growing. Improving their knowledge, skills, and abilities particularly in light of the disruptions beginng to occur, such as AI, digitization, and others.
What will help Sales Coaches increase their earning potential?
Derrek Schartz: The future of sales will require a change to the knowledge, skills, and abilities of salespeople (KSAs). Knowledge is a very important part of what a salesperson needs to be effective.
Ken Corbit Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in MarketingTexas Christian University
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Sales Coach?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: Strategic
Company Selection:
Focus on joining companies with robust sales training programs, emphasizing consultative selling. Look for organizations that invest in your development, providing live calling experiences, quota-driven sales processes, and exposure to tools like Salesforce.
Tech
Proficiency and Sales Tools Mastery:
Familiarize yourself with cutting-edge sales technologies, including CRM tools like Salesforce. Your proficiency in these tools will not only streamline your sales processes but also position you as a tech-savvy professional in the competitive sales landscape.
Hands-On
Experience:
Actively engage in live calling, take ownership of sales funnels, and work with senior hiring authorities during your training. This hands-on experience will not only build your confidence but also prepare you for the challenges of consultative selling.
Research
and Decision-Making Skills:
Develop strong research skills to evaluate companies based on fit, growth opportunities, compensation structures, and overall potential. This informed decision-making approach will set you apart and empower you to navigate the sales landscape strategically.
Mentorship
and Networking:
Seek mentorship both within and outside your organization. Building relationships with mentors who invest in your sales skills and knowledge will provide valuable insights. Additionally, actively participate in online forums to connect with practical sales
knowledge and best practices.
What Sales Coach skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: AI-Integrated Consultative Selling: Recognize the evolving role of AI in sales. Embrace AI tools that enhance your pre-call preparation, role-playing, agenda setting, and call talk track development. Stay ahead by incorporating AI into your sales strategies to deliver personalized and efficient client engagements.
What will help Sales Coaches increase their earning potential?
Ken Corbit Ph.D.: Holistic
Knowledge Mastery:
Become an expert in your industry, staying abreast of market trends, and thoroughly understanding the products/services you sell. This comprehensive knowledge will empower you to provide exceptional value, resulting in higher sales success and increased client
retention.
Strategic
Question-Based Selling:
Master the art of question-based selling. Use insightful questions to uncover client needs, address pain points, and tailor your approach. This strategic skill will not only boost initial sales but also contribute to secondary sales and long-term client satisfaction.
Compensation
Structure Expertise:
Understand your organization's compensation structure thoroughly. This includes baseline compensation, commission and bonus plans, and additional benefits. This knowledge allows you to set realistic targets, maximize your earnings, and take full advantage
of uncapped commission structures.
Consistent
Target Achievement:
Consistently meet or exceed targets and quotas to demonstrate your value. This not only enhances your immediate success but also positions you for continuous earning potential, especially in roles with uncapped commissions.
Negotiation
and Value Recognition:
Develop negotiation skills to ensure you are compensated appropriately. Recognize your worth and, when appropriate, discuss compensation adjustments or additional benefits with your employer. A proactive approach to recognizing and articulating your value
contributes to your overall salary potential.
In a rapidly evolving sales landscape, continuous learning, tech adaptability, and proactive career management are fundamental for achieving sustained success in consultative sales.
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.
Executive Director, Center for Professional Selling, Frank and Floy Smith Holloway Endowed Professorship in Marketing, President, University Sales Center Alliance 2019-2021Baylor University
Hankamer School of Business
What soft skills should all Sales Coaches possess?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: Since sales professionals have a lot of information available to them today via customer relationship management (CRM) systems, the sales manager's "supervisory" role is less important (especially for experienced sellers). Consequently, the sales manager needs to be more of a coach and enabler of high performance. Having confidence balanced with humility allows the sales manager to engage more effectively with their salespeople.
One of the critical soft skills for sales managers going forward will be the ability to connect members of the sales team to others in the organization - in other words, the sales manager of the future needs to have strong skills in network building for others. Sellers have access to data which helps them build success.
They also need access to the right people to turn to when they need specific expertise or assistance.
What skills will help Sales Coaches earn the most?
Andrea Dixon Ph.D.: People who can recognize patterns (in data, in people), build connections with and across others, create a focus on high-performance behaviors, and lead with a confident humility are those who will win today and in the future business environment.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Sales Coaches to find work opportunities?
Dr. David Lehr: Most job growth will continue to be in urban centers and the surrounding suburbs. Rural areas will continue to struggle (remote work notwithstanding).
What skills stand out on Sales Coach resumes?
Dr. David Lehr: Information flow skills, particularly surrounding data analytics.
Kerri Orders
Assistant Professor of BusinessAquinas College
Business Administration Department
What Sales Coach skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kerri Orders: In terms of a gap year, I recommend that international business students acquire tangible skills, relevant experience and/or certifications which will enhance their success in their desired area of interest. For example, a gap year could consist of gaining technical or digital training overseas, which would also further the students' cultural intelligence and language proficiency. These types of enriching gap year experiences will assist students to distinguish themselves in a highly competitive market. Furthermore, students should focus on broadening and maintaining their global network during a gap year in order to be ready for the job market once the gap year is concluded.
What skills stand out on Sales Coach resumes?
Dr. Angela Woodland Ph.D.: Skills that are immediately useful stand out on resumes. Right now, data analytics skills are in hot demand. A desirable job candidate should be able to import large data sets in various formats, clean data, manipulate data, interrogate data, and draw conclusions from the data. Additionally, the job candidate should be able to prepare informative and easy-to-follow data visualizations of the results. This skill set allows a job candidate to be immediately useful in an organization. It is the new way of analyzing and communicating.
Wyatt Schrock Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of MarketingMichigan State University
Broad College of Business
What type of skills will young Sales Coaches need?
Wyatt Schrock Ph.D.: For graduates entering careers in sales, two skills that come to my mind are (1) listening skills and (2) analytical skills. First, I think listening is indeed a skill that can be developed with techniques and practice. Importantly, and for several reasons (e.g., building rapport, overcoming objections), I do not think you can be a good salesperson and be a bad listener. Second, I think analytical skills may be overlooked in terms of importance for salespeople. Certainly, selling is about relationship-building. However, and simultaneously, selling is also about delivering quantifiable value. It may be increasingly important for salespeople to have the ability to demonstrate exactly how or where they intend to help their customers grow revenue or reduce expenses.
Dr. Karla Gavin
Director of the Master of Sport Administration Program, Associate Professor of Sport Administration (2010)Upper Iowa University
School of Business and Professional Studies
What skills stand out on Sales Coach resumes?
Dr. Karla Gavin: College students who graduate and move into the workforce need to think of themselves as independent contractors. They need to articulate their abilities to be flexible and adaptable, and to communicate very clearly in written and verbal communication. Job candidates will benefit from viewing issues as challenges instead of problems and using out-of-the-box thinking to resolve those issues.
They need to share their ability to work with diverse groups of people in team settings. Their willingness to be lifelong learners is important and they should reflect their desire to attend professional development activities and to pursue advanced degrees or certifications. Examples of leadership positions and opportunities need to be indicated on the resume.
Each of the areas mentioned above requires related examples to be stated concisely to reiterate their accomplishments and future goals.
What type of skills will young Sales Coaches need?
Peter Johnson DPS: There are three things that employers are looking for:
1. Demonstrated ability to solve problems
2. Ability to analyze and make decisions based on data
3. Communication skills with management, teams, and clients
What experience really stands out on Sales Coach resumes?
Peter Johnson DPS: For entry-level positions, resumes need to include the basic "table stakes" type of skills: career-related coursework, leadership experience, and technical competencies: PowerPoint, Excel, CRM, and something like Python, if analytics are required. To stand out and for mid-level positions: published articles or white paper; original research, for demonstrated expertise in a product or service category.
What type of skills will young Sales Coaches need?
Deirdre Kelly: Young graduates will need the same traditional legal skills that they have always needed. Additionally, they will need to be resilient and creative to weather a more challenging and ever-evolving work environment. They will need to be very disciplined and able to work independently, if they are working more remotely, and have enough technical skills to navigate the virtual world. New graduates will need to think about how they build relationships with their co-workers and develop mentors, as well as develop clients and networks, if the future means working remotely more and not as many in-person meetings.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Sales Coaches to find work opportunities?
Adry S. Clark Ph.D.: It all depends on what you want to do. An English major helps you develop some very broad skill sets - keep in mind most employers value good writing skills. Some work opportunities are highly localized. If your goals include working in the publishing industry, for instance, you might be better off being in New York, where most big book publishers are located. You might also find some smaller publishers all over the country. If technical writing is more to your liking, perhaps the Bay Area might offer more opportunities.
Michael Mikitka
Executive Vice PresidentMHI – Material Handling Industry
Knowledge Center and Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC)
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Sales Coaches to find work opportunities?
Michael Mikitka: I hate to say it...but it depends. If someone is drawn to supply chain and logistics...it is everywhere. Any organization that produces anything is a potential employer, as are the companies that provide products and services that support those organizations. You do not usually have to look very far to find potential employers.