Sales Managers

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.

Median Annual Wage: $110,660

Education: Bachelor's degree (57%); Master's degree (14%); Some college, no degree (14%)

Projected Growth: Average (8% to 14%)

Related Job Titles: General Manager; Store Manager; Sales Manager; Vice President of Sales; Director of Sales; District Sales Manager; Regional Sales Manager; Sales Supervisor; Sales and Marketing Vice President; Sales Representative

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Sales Managers.

More Management Careers

  • Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
  • Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.
  • Determine price schedules and discount rates.
  • Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
  • Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
  • 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.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Sales Managers.

  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Sales Managers.

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