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Job outlook for sales counselors in the United States
Sales counselor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected sales counselor job growth rate is 0% from 2018-2028.
About 1,900 new jobs for sales counselors are projected over the next decade.
Sales counselor salaries have increased 19% for sales counselors in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,840 sales counselors currently employed in the United States.
There are 58,475 active sales counselor job openings in the US.
The average sales counselor salary is $63,569.
Are sales counselor jobs in demand?
Sales counselor job and salary trends over time
Sales counselor jobs over time
Sales counselor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,840 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 6,778 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 7,997 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 8,238 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 8,227 | 0.00% |
Average sales counselor salary over time
Sales counselor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,569 | $30.56 | +7.2% |
| 2024 | $59,273 | $28.50 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $56,808 | $27.31 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $54,484 | $26.19 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $53,240 | $25.60 | +4.1% |
Sales counselor jobs by state
Most common states for sales counselors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 126 | 18% |
| 2 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 552 | 15% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 157 | 15% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 155 | 15% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 144 | 15% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 93 | 15% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 190 | 14% |
| 8 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 757 | 13% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 98 | 13% |
| 10 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 73 | 13% |
| 11 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 2,457 | 12% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,545 | 12% |
| 13 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,271 | 12% |
| 14 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,018 | 12% |
| 15 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 599 | 12% |
| 16 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 154 | 12% |
| 17 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,140 | 11% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,008 | 11% |
| 19 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 743 | 11% |
| 20 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 468 | 11% |
Most common cities for sales counselors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun City West | 4 | 16% | $64,790 |
| 2 | Frankfort | 2 | 7% | $61,466 |
| 3 | Annapolis | 2 | 5% | $70,861 |
| 4 | Dover | 2 | 5% | $64,555 |
| 5 | Beaumont | 3 | 3% | $60,017 |
| 6 | Fort Myers | 2 | 3% | $54,603 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 8 | 2% | $53,169 |
| 8 | Hartford | 2 | 2% | $70,034 |
| 9 | Tampa | 3 | 1% | $56,111 |
| 10 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $58,179 |
| 11 | Denton | 2 | 1% | $61,059 |
| 12 | Des Moines | 2 | 1% | $51,333 |
| 13 | Denver | 3 | 0% | $55,144 |
| 14 | Phoenix | 3 | 0% | $64,748 |
| 15 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $73,296 |
| 16 | Chicago | 2 | 0% | $65,042 |
| 17 | Indianapolis | 2 | 0% | $53,679 |
Sales Counselor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of sales counselor experts
University of Akron
University of Central Missouri
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Mount Union
Franklin and Marshall College
California State University Channel Islands
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Drexel University, Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
What Sales Counselor 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.
Director Dave Payne M.S.
Associate Professor of Practice / SalesUniversity of Akron
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What Sales Counselor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Director Dave Payne M.S.: Skills and competence are king! Sales professionals are paid a commission and bonus based on "sales performance" results...this will continue to drive top sales reps and managers to earn some of the highest incomes in the country. I am very proud to share that U Akron sales graduates have had a nearly 100% job placement rate for over a decade, with some of the highest starting incomes in the state of Ohio. This is directly tied to the gracious support of the 30 Fisher Institute for Professional Selling corporate partners which hire them every semester.
Stephen (Tyler) Hirlinger
Assistant Professor of MarketingUniversity of Central Missouri
Division of Business Strategy, Marketing Program
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Sales Counselors?
Stephen (Tyler) Hirlinger: The pandemic will certainly have a lasting impact on graduates, both positively and negatively. To start with the positives, I think the transition to online learning the past two semesters has forced students to gain many valuable skills that will be necessary for success in the post-pandemic work environment. The work dynamic in many industries may remain radically different for the foreseeable future and I think graduates will be more resourceful, organized, more productive in remote settings, and work better in groups due to the recent circumstances. I also think students will learn to be more entrepreneurial and improve their ability to "sell themselves" due to fewer career opportunities and higher competition in the workforce. Time will tell, but I think the lack of job availability may stunt the career growth for many recent graduates, while those that learn to grow when faced with adversity will thrive.
Dr. Barbara Joyce
ACCESS Academic Advisor for undergraduate students in Sociology, Departmental advisorUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa
Department of Sociology
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Sales Counselor job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Barbara Joyce: One of the advantages of a BA in Sociology is that it is a liberal arts degree and not a professional degree. In addition, Sociology has the broadest subject matter of any of the social science disciplines, so our graduates can take their skills and knowledge into a broad range of careers. Since the range of possible careers is so great, labor market trends are not particularly relevant to Sociology graduates.
Michael Grossman Ph.D.
Professor, Political Studies and International StudiesUniversity of Mount Union
Department of Political Science and International Studies
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Sales Counselors?
Michael Grossman Ph.D.: It is less about licenses or courses and more about experiences. In this regard, internships are crucial.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Sales Counselors?
Cynthia Krom: Professional certifications matter. If your profession has a certification, you need to have that certification to be competitive in this new world. So, a public accountant needs to have a CPA, and a corporate accountant needs to have their CMA. A fraud examiner needs their CFE. Find out what is available in your profession and take whatever courses or exams are needed to be at the top of your game, because everyone else will.
We don't really know what will be happening with professional licenses with remote work. A psychotherapist may be licensed in New York, but remotely treating a client in New Mexico. Technically, they probably need a license in New Mexico. But who will control that? Will it just be the professional responsibility of the therapist to only practice where licensed? Will their malpractice insurance only cover them if the client is where they are licensed? What about a physician operating on someone a thousand miles away using robotics?
In terms of courses not related to professional certification or licensure, technology is where it is at. First and foremost, polish your Zoom skills. Zoom is now your face-to-face workplace and you need to be a pro. YouTube has great videos about lighting for Zoom, even with reflective eyeglasses. Perhaps your IT department is able to help with connectivity issues and learning remote technologies. And, as we have all recently seen, you need to learn how to turn off filters that make you look like a kitten! For nearly every field, you have to know Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) or similar programs. You need to know how to work collaboratively on projects through things like Google Drive. If you are not fluent in the basics, you are showing up for a horse race with a little pony.
What will help Sales Counselors increase their earning potential?
Cynthia Krom: Well, the things already mentioned. Certification, licensure, skills. You have to keep current in your field, whether or not continuing professional education is required. Just knowing accounting isn't enough anymore - you need to know data analysis. You must demonstrate that you are able to successfully work independently, lead a team, and have integrity. Many people are also cultivating a side hustle, but you want to be really certain that any moonlighting does not present a conflict of interest for your main job or you could find your side hustle as your only hustle.
Ekin Pehlivan Ph.D.
Associate Professor of MarketingCalifornia State University Channel Islands
Martin V. Smith School of Business and Economics
What's a good job out of college for Sales Counselors?
Ekin Pehlivan Ph.D.: I think a description of a "good" job opportunity is dependent on so many factors, almost all subjective. What I recommend my students usually, is that they try different things before graduation and find something that makes them feel a purpose other than (and in addition to) making ends meet. For this reason we started a program on our campus where students are hired to help non-profits and small businesses in our area of service. In this program, students get to gain and practice skills that can help them succeed in a corporate or freelance capacity. The students get to experiment without fear of losing a job and find what they would like their entry level positions to look like. While doing this they also help organizations and individuals who have the need but not the resources to get the services from professionals.
What soft skills should all Sales Counselors possess?
Sonya DiPalma Ph.D.: Be personable and a person someone wants to talk with and work with on a continuing basis. Listening and note-taking skills will be critical. Great employees listen well and ask good follow up questions. Be versatile and adaptable. If you find some downtime between projects, ask how you may help with another project.
What's a day at work look like for a Sales Counselor?
Joseph Hancock: New graduates will need to be self-disciplined and self-motivated. No one is going to hold your hand and tell you "get to work" or you will soon be looking for a new job. The new world may be one where you don't go to an office, but instead work right from home, scheduling appointments and doing your own calendar. My last years working for Target in a regional field position taught me that no one was going to motivate me each day, I had to motivate myself. Also, it can be lonely working from home as a new graduate, so find outside interests and ways to make friends. I am from the old fashion ideologies that getting a hobby is extremely important, and that hobby is not going to the gym or watching television. It includes something that enriches your life to be a better person in society.