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How to hire a sales specialist

Sales specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring sales specialists in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a sales specialist is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per sales specialist on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 773,056 sales specialists in the US, and there are currently 324,069 job openings in this field.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for sales specialists, with 152 job openings.

How to hire a sales specialist, step by step

To hire a sales specialist, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a sales specialist:

Here's a step-by-step sales specialist hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a sales specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new sales specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a sales specialist do?

A sales specialist is responsible for offering the best goods and services to customers in order to boost the company's sales. Sales specialists also promote strategies and solutions to contribute to the company's growth and profitability. A sales specialist must have extensive knowledge of the current market trends and the best sales skills to perform marketing tasks. Sales specialists should have excellent communication and customer service skills to assist existing and potential clients with their inquiries and concerns.

Learn more about the specifics of what a sales specialist does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your sales specialist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a sales specialist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A sales specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, sales specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    The following list breaks down different types of sales specialists and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Sales SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Sales SpecialistWholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. They contact customers, explain product features, answer any questions that their customers may have, and negotiate prices.$14-43
    Sales PersonA salesperson is in charge of ensuring that the products, goods, or services of the company get sold to customers. They are trained to market the products well, understand what the customer needs, and find the product that best fits the customer's needs... Show more$6-58
    Sales ProfessionalA sales professional is an employee who is responsible for the management and assessment of the effectiveness of a company's sales representatives and sales team. By setting sales goals, sales professionals work with other departments to learn more about the company's products and services while developing strategies for acquiring new clients... Show more$20-52
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Building Relationships
    • Customer Complaints
    • Customer Orders
    • Product Knowledge
    • Patients
    • Sales Process
    • CRM
    • Customer Service
    • Plumbing
    • Business Development
    • PowerPoint
    • Customer Issues
    • Work Ethic
    • Azure
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage a Salesforce database comprise of customer information, leads and potential sales opportunities.
    • Manage Pardot (marketing database), and Zuora (online billing and payment gateway).
    • Manage territory retail accounts, category management, install POS, sell of manufacturer programs and implementation of sales programs.
    • Manage planning parameters in ERP via the item master (lead times, min/max, safety stock, pay terms).
    • Master delivering technical product information to doctors on training and teaching proper injection technique to achieve optimal results for patients.
    • Lead on sales order reporting for Americas.
    More sales specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your sales specialist job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A sales specialist salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a sales specialist in Montana may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level sales specialist usually earns less than a senior-level sales specialist. Additionally, a sales specialist with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average sales specialist salary

    $53,004yearly

    $25.48 hourly rate

    Entry-level sales specialist salary
    $30,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 5, 2025

    Average sales specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Massachusetts$75,688$36
    2California$73,309$35
    3New York$71,050$34
    4Washington$66,766$32
    5Texas$64,086$31
    6District of Columbia$61,963$30
    7Missouri$60,102$29
    8North Carolina$59,835$29
    9Michigan$57,907$28
    10Virginia$57,799$28
    11Ohio$57,743$28
    12Nevada$57,189$27
    13Minnesota$56,884$27
    14Oregon$56,609$27
    15Georgia$55,845$27
    16Colorado$55,620$27
    17Maine$55,329$27
    18Pennsylvania$55,156$27
    19Arizona$55,075$26
    20Alabama$55,055$26

    Average sales specialist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1VMware$148,810$71.54
    2Google$137,786$66.2441
    3AstraZeneca$135,847$65.3136
    4Novo Nordisk$131,369$63.161
    5Microsoft$129,932$62.4716
    6Palo Alto Networks$129,883$62.4460
    7Nuance Communications$129,454$62.24
    8Bloomberg$125,763$60.469
    9Citi$125,333$60.2612
    10Western Digital$125,265$60.22
    11Capgemini$125,193$60.1919
    12Pluralsight$124,550$59.884
    13Epicor$124,547$59.88
    14Morgan Stanley$124,267$59.744
    15Merck$124,123$59.67728
    16Novartis$123,595$59.42
    17Forcepoint$123,204$59.236
    18Twilio$123,179$59.223
    19Anaplan$121,436$58.381
    20Medidata$120,920$58.132
  4. Writing a sales specialist job description

    A sales specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a sales specialist job description:

    Sales specialist job description example

    Salary: $20.84 per hour / $42,000 annually

    Salary with a Bachelor's Degree: $22.33 per hour / $45,000 annually

    Potential to earn up to an additional $7,500 in monthly sales incentives once trained!

    Many associates see a base salary increase of 10% within their first year as a Sales Representative. Top associates can see increases up to 15%!

    GEICO doesn't just grow people's wallets, we grow careers. Be an integral part of the 15 minutes that could save 15% or more. GEICO is looking for Sales Representatives for our Lenexa, KS office. This role is for goal-minded people with the drive to be their best. We invest in our people, and we're ready to invest in you. You don't have to have the know-how of all things insurance, but the know-how-to-get-the-answers. In this role, you'll show our customers the value that comes with being a GEICO policyholder: preparing insurance quotes, advising customers on coverage, and converting quotes into new policies - all without making a single cold call. And all while growing your career. Because when you grow, we grow. Simple as that. So if you'd like to grow together, let's talk.

    Benefits:

    At GEICO, we make sure you have the support and resources to leverage and develop your skills, secure your financial future, and take care of your health and well-being. GEICO continually seeks to provide a workplace where everyone can be their authentic self. To help achieve this goal, we support associate-led Employee Resource Groups that foster a true sense of community. Through GEICO's competitive benefits offerings and various training and development opportunities, we have you covered with our Total Rewards Program* that includes:

    • Premier Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance with no waiting period**
    • Paid Vacation, Sick and Parental Leave
    • 401(k) Plan
    • Tuition Reimbursement
    • Paid Training and Licensures

    Salary:

    Salary: $20.84 per hour / $42,000 annually

    Salary with a Bachelor's Degree: $22.33 per hour / $45,000 annually

    Potential to earn up to an additional $7,500 in monthly sales incentives once trained!

    Many associates see a base salary increase of 10% within their first year as a Sales Representative. Top associates can see increases up to 15%!

    Qualifications & Skills:

    • Prior sales experience
    • Solid computer and multi-tasking skills
    • Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing
    • Ability to work comfortably in a fast-paced, high-volume call center environment
    • Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent, college degree or currently pursuing preferred

    To ensure our associates receive the training and support needed to excel and thrive, associates hired for this position are generally required to work at the GEICO building during their orientation period. The safety of our associates, both current and future, is GEICO's highest priority, and we have implemented rigorous safety measures and policies to ensure our associates are protected. These safety protocols include:

    • Temperature screening when entering the building

    • Daily health survey

    • Social distancing measures

    • Required mask wearing in common areas

    • CDC approved disinfectant usage and increased cleaning measures

    GEICO will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely, and will adjust policies as needed to ensure the continued safety of our associates.

    *Benefits may be different by location. Benefit eligibility requirements vary and may include length of service.

    **Coverage begins on the date of hire. Must enroll in New Hire Benefits within 30 days of the date of hire for coverage to take effect.

    GEICO is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to cultivating an environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all associates and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. GEICO celebrates diversity and believes it is critical to our success. As such, we are committed to recruit, develop and retain the most talented individuals to join our team.

  5. Post your job

    To find sales specialists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any sales specialists they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level sales specialists with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your sales specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit sales specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with sales specialist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new sales specialist

    Once you've found the sales specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new sales specialist. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a sales specialist?

Recruiting sales specialists involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for sales specialists is $53,004 in the US. However, the cost of sales specialist hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a sales specialist for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $14 and $43 an hour.

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