What is a sales support associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Meegan Feori Ph.D.,

Daniel Miller Ph.D.

A sales support associate assists sales teams by providing administrative and operational support. They ensure that sales representatives have the resources they need, such as managing data entry, coordinating appointments, and preparing sales materials. Sales support associates also maintain databases, order supplies, and provide customer service. They help to streamline the sales process and ensure that sales representatives can focus on building relationships with clients and closing deals.

What general advice would you give to a sales support associate?

Meegan Feori Ph.D.

Associate Professor, San Diego Mesa College

Consider your career in terms of what you are willing to do right now to support yourself and be self-sufficient. During the last recession, I was underemployed, working as a part-time pool lifeguard and making funnel cakes at a local amusement park. Not ideal, but with my funds running low, it was necessary. A third part-time position I had, updating apparel tech packs, did pave my way to a full-time job in the fashion industry. So hustle and be flexible. Also, take time to consider what you can do to create opportunities for yourself. This could include an internship, volunteering, taking a warehouse position at a fashion brand, or completing a class that interests you. The best advice I was ever given was to keep pursuing your goals and accept that what you will be doing in ten years will be better than you ever imagined. The advice came true for me, and I think it will be true for you as well.

ScoreSales Support AssociateUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $34,454

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 5.16%

Black or African American 3.85%

Hispanic or Latino 14.29%

Unknown 3.71%

White 72.76%

Gender

female 56.48%

male 43.52%

Age - 48

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 - 48

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a sales support associate?

Pros

Potential for career advancement within the company
Develop teamwork and collaboration skills
Competitive pay and benefits package
Opportunity for commission or bonuses
Potential for flexible work schedule

Cons

Can be repetitive or monotonous work
Must meet sales targets or quotas
May require extensive product knowledge or training
Can be highly competitive among colleagues
May have limited autonomy or decision-making power

Key steps to become a sales support associate

Explore sales support associate education requirements

Most common sales support associate degrees

Bachelor's

52.5 %

Associate

20.0 %

High School Diploma

17.8 %

Start to develop specific sales support associate skills

Skills	Percentages
Sales Floor	20.63%
Back Room	12.95%
Math	12.89%
Sales Support	12.34%
Customer Service	8.43%

Complete relevant sales support associate training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sales support associates learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a sales support associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sales support associate resumes.

Research sales support associate duties and responsibilities

Contribute to marketing business online and manage Facebook page.
Cross trained on POS function and inventory management
Assist patients with Critical/Triage calls; document necessary symptoms for medical assistants to determine what medical intervention is necessary.
Work with A/R on short payments and credit/debit discrepancies.

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