How long does it take to become a Territory Manager?

It takes 7 years of professional experience to become a territory manager. That is the time it takes to learn specific territory manager skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 10 to 12 years years to become a territory manager.

How much do territory managers make?

Territory managers make an average of $99,590 a year. The range, however, typically falls between $79,789 to $123,856 a year. Factors such as location and years of experience impact how much a territory manager can make.

How much does a sales territory manager make?

Sales territory managers make about $99,700 on average per year. This is the median salary for the position, though some individuals, especially those with extensive experience and sales acumen, make upward of $146,100 per year. The average starting salary for a sales territory manager hovers around $61,800.

Is territory manager a good job?

Yes, being a territory manager is a good job. Territory managers make good money, and there are no formal education requirements. Working as a territory manager can be an exciting career with no two workdays looking the same.

What is a territory sales manager?

A territory sales manager is an individual who monitors sales activity for a specific region, as designated by their employer. These individuals monitor sales teams, provide strategies for field sales teams, and train new sales reps for the position. They're also responsible for increasing brand awareness in their specified region.

What is a territory manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Bill Thorne

A territory manager oversees a designated area or region for a company. Their role involves managing the sales and marketing activities within the territory and ensuring that revenue targets are met. Territory managers work closely with customers to develop relationships and identify opportunities to increase sales. They train and coach teammates, to ensure they are equipped to achieve their goals and are a link between the company and its customers, working to build strong relationships.

What general advice would you give to a territory manager?

Bill Thorne

Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation

Retail is the largest private-sector employer in the country, directly employing 32 million people and supporting 52 million jobs overall - roughly one-quarter of the U.S. workforce. While COVID-19 has presented new and unexpected challenges, retailers have continued to showcase the industry's resilience and adaptability time and again. The safety and security of customers and employees remains our greatest priority. It is no doubt that the professional environment has changed this year, but retail continues to offer a plethora of career opportunities for graduates and seasoned veterans alike.

ScoreTerritory ManagerUS Average

Salary

5.8

Avg. Salary $73,728

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.4

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 4.07%

Black or African American 3.24%

Hispanic or Latino 9.82%

Unknown 4.41%

White 78.23%

Gender

female 28.70%

male 71.30%

Age - 46

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 - 46

Stress level

6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a territory manager?

Pros

Opportunity for high earning
Chance to build strong relationships with clients
Ability to develop a wide range of skills, from sales to marketing to leadership
Chance to work with a variety of industries and products
Ability to work remotely or from home for some companies

Cons

Constantly changing market conditions can make success difficult to sustain
Heavy competition from other sales representatives and companies
Limited control over product availability and pricing
Difficulty balancing the needs of multiple clients and territories
Constant rejection and disappointment when deals fall through

Key steps to become a territory manager

Explore territory manager education requirements

Most common territory manager degrees

Bachelor's

78.2 %

Associate

10.3 %

Master's

6.1 %

Start to develop specific territory manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	12.89%
Patients	7.85%
Product Knowledge	6.57%
Work Ethic	6.54%
CRM	4.96%

Complete relevant territory manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New territory managers 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 territory manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real territory manager resumes.

Research territory manager duties and responsibilities

Achieve MVP in Q3 2003 and Q1 through Q4 2004.
Manage promotional budgets focusing on high ROI events, thus increasing sales at lower promotional cost.
Manage all aspects of TM specification, sales, order management and delivery of customer's orders.
Generate leads through internet research, marketing, trade show participation, internal department cross-selling, and referrals.

Prepare your territory manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your territory manager 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 territory manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable territory manager resume templates

Build a professional territory manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your territory manager resume.

Apply for territory manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a territory manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do territory managers rate their job?

4/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Territory manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020

Pros

Motivating people and helping to create success in each person's day. Honor God serve people in rich people's lives, pursue excellence in service.

Cons

Not enough time in each day to get everything accomplished.

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

Semi-flexible work hours. You have a sales goal and customers to call on in order to achieve said goal, so you have some flexibility of your schedule.

Cons

The amount of travel required takes you away from home frequently. If you have a family, being away starts taking a toll on them and work/life balance suffers.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Cons

I like everything

Pros

Coming in contact with people, motivating staff, making the numbers, profitability for everyone

What is a territory manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a territory manager?

What are the pros and cons of being a territory manager?

Territory manager career paths

Key steps to become a territory manager

Explore territory manager education requirements

Most common territory manager degrees

Start to develop specific territory manager skills

Complete relevant territory manager training and internships

Research territory manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your territory manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable territory manager resume templates

Apply for territory manager jobs

How did you land your first territory manager job

Average territory manager salary

How do territory managers rate their job?

Territory manager reviews

Territory manager FAQs

How long does it take to become a Territory Manager?

How much do territory managers make?

How much does a sales territory manager make?

Is territory manager a good job?

What is a territory sales manager?

Search for territory manager jobs

Territory manager jobs by state