What is a territory sales manager and how to become one

Q: 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.

Q: How much does a territory account manager make?

Territory account managers make around $85,000 annually, though some may make upwards of $118,400 per year. Incentives are also given to territory account managers for successful retention and conversion of clients or customers. These incentives are often given as performance bonuses.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: What is the difference between an area sales manager and a territory sales manager?

The difference between an area sales manager and a territory sales manager lies in the experience and responsibilities given. Area managers are expected to manage a team, make presentations, and hit goals in a specific area. Territory sales managers are expected to implement new strategies, expand or decrease sales teams, and ensure all numbers are hit by their area managers and their teams within a region.

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Bill Thorne,

Felicia Hodges

A territory sales manager supervises sales activities within a specific geographic area or region. They work to maximize revenue and growth by building relationships with customers, identifying sales opportunities, and developing marketing strategies. Territory sales managers work for manufacturers, wholesalers, or distributors. They must stay up-to-date on industry trends and maintain a deep understanding of their products and services. The ability to communicate, lead, and multitask effectively contribute to success in this role.

What general advice would you give to a territory sales 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 Sales ManagerUS Average

Salary

5.8

Avg. Salary $74,356

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 25.04%

male 74.96%

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 sales manager?

Pros

Opportunity for career advancement
Variety in daily tasks and responsibilities
Chance to learn about different industries and products
Access to training and professional development opportunities
Flexibility in schedule and work environment

Cons

Long hours and unpredictable schedule
Difficulty balancing personal and work life
Limited job security if sales are not consistently met
Significant competition from other sales representatives
Potential for burnout due to high stress levels.

Key steps to become a territory sales manager

Explore territory sales manager education requirements

Most common territory sales manager degrees

Bachelor's

77.3 %

Associate

11.1 %

Master's

6.1 %

Start to develop specific territory sales manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Territory Sales	10.95%
Customer Service	8.97%
Healthcare	6.34%
CRM	5.85%
Patients	4.88%

Complete relevant territory sales manager training and internships

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

Research territory sales manager duties and responsibilities

Manage all the Costco Midwest regional activity.
Manage annual marketing budget of $1.0 MM.
Manage accounts and territory with CRM software to optimize production
Manage process and documentation flow from initial contact through program execution, including timely CRM management.

Prepare your territory sales manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your territory sales 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 sales 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 sales manager resume templates

Build a professional territory sales 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 sales manager resume.

Apply for territory sales manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a territory sales 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 sales managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Territory sales 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.

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

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.

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.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Pros

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

Cons

I like everything

Territory sales manager FAQs

What is a territory sales manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a territory sales manager?

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

Territory sales manager career paths

Key steps to become a territory sales manager

Explore territory sales manager education requirements

Most common territory sales manager degrees

Start to develop specific territory sales manager skills

Complete relevant territory sales manager training and internships

Research territory sales manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your territory sales manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable territory sales manager resume templates

Apply for territory sales manager jobs

How did you land your first territory sales manager job

Average territory sales manager salary

How do territory sales managers rate their job?

Territory sales manager reviews

Territory sales manager FAQs

How much does a sales territory manager make?

How much does a territory account manager make?

Is territory manager a good job?

What is a territory sales manager?

What is the difference between an area sales manager and a territory sales manager?

Search for territory sales manager jobs

Territory sales manager jobs by state