Management
Sales Managers
Also called: District Sales Manager, Fractional Sales Executive, National Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager
US median pay
$148,270
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+4.5%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
47,300
650,100 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
What they do day to day
- Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
- Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
- Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
- Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs, and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
- Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
- Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.
- Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate, or other subjects of sale.
- Determine price schedules and discount rates.
- Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures.
- Confer or consult with department heads to plan advertising services and to secure information on equipment and customer specifications.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Negotiation4.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Persuasion3.9/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.9/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9/5
- Time Management3.8/5
- Instructing3.8/5
- Coordination3.8/5
Knowledge
- Sales and Marketing4.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.3/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Administration and Management4.0/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.4/5
- Education and Training3.2/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree, plus less than 5 years of related work experience.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree71%
- Some college19%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.