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Sales Representatives

Sales representatives build relationships with clients to sell products and services across diverse industries including advertising, insurance, financial services, travel, and general business services. These professionals identify customer needs, present solutions, negotiate terms, and maintain ongoing client relationships to meet sales targets. They work in offices, meet with clients at various locations, and often travel to develop new business opportunities.

Median Annual Pay
$65,496
Range: $30,580 - $212,180
Training Time
2 to 4 years
AI Resilience
🟠In Transition
Education
Associate's degree

🎬Career Video

🤖AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 2/6: high AI task exposure indicates this career is being transformed by AI

🟠In Transition

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
High+0

56% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Stable+1

+2% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Moderate+1

EPOCH score: 16/25

Total Score2/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

📋Key Responsibilities

  • Prepare and deliver sales presentations to new and existing customers to sell new advertising programs and to protect and increase existing advertising.
  • Maintain assigned account bases while developing new accounts.
  • Provide clients with estimates of the costs of advertising products or services.
  • Locate and contact potential clients to offer advertising services.
  • Explain to customers how specific types of advertising will help promote their products or services in the most effective way possible.
  • Obtain and study information about clients' products, needs, problems, advertising history, and business practices to offer effective sales presentations and appropriate product assistance.
  • Prepare promotional plans, sales literature, media kits, and sales contracts, using computer.
  • Process all correspondence and paperwork related to accounts.

💡Inside This Career

Sales representatives spend their days building relationships and connecting clients with solutions that meet their specific needs. A typical morning might begin with reviewing market trends, updating client information, and preparing for scheduled presentations or meetings. They dedicate significant time to prospecting—researching potential clients, making cold calls, and following up on leads through various channels. Whether working from a traditional office, meeting clients at their locations, or operating from a home-based setup, sales representatives must be adaptable and self-motivated to manage their diverse responsibilities.

Client interaction forms the core of their daily activities, involving needs assessments, product demonstrations, and proposal presentations tailored to each prospect's unique situation. Sales representatives frequently collaborate with internal teams including marketing specialists, technical experts, and customer service personnel to develop comprehensive solutions and ensure smooth implementation. They maintain detailed records of client communications, track sales pipeline progress, and analyze performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement. Time management becomes crucial as they balance immediate sales activities with long-term relationship building.

The variety in their work extends beyond direct selling—sales representatives often attend industry conferences, participate in training sessions to stay current with product developments, and engage in networking events to expand their professional connections. They may work with individual consumers seeking personal solutions or corporate decision-makers requiring complex, multi-faceted proposals. Success requires adapting communication styles to different audiences, from technical presentations to relationship-focused conversations, while consistently following up on commitments and maintaining the trust that drives repeat business and referrals.

📈Career Progression

What does this mean?

This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$30,580
$27,522 - $33,638
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$37,720
$33,948 - $41,492
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$47,410
$42,669 - $52,151
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$59,290
$53,361 - $65,219
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$69,640
$62,676 - $76,604

📚Education & Training

Requirements

  • Entry Education: Associate's degree
  • Experience: One to two years
  • On-the-job Training: One to two years
  • !License or certification required

Time & Cost

Education Duration
2-3 years (typically 2)
Estimated Education Cost
$7,980 - $23,220
Public (in-state):$23,220
Community college:$7,980
Source: college board (2024)
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💻Technology Skills

CRM software (Salesforce)Microsoft OfficeMedia planning toolsPresentation softwareAnalyticsInsurance quoting softwareCRM systemsPolicy managementE-signaturesTrading platformsBloomberg TerminalCRM softwareFinancial modelingCompliance systemsGlobal distribution systems (Sabre, Amadeus)

Key Abilities

Oral Expression
Speech Clarity
Oral Comprehension
Speech Recognition
Written Comprehension
Written Expression
Near Vision
Fluency of Ideas
Originality
Problem Sensitivity

🏷️Also Known As

Sales RepresentativesAccount PlannerAccount SpecialistAdvertising Account RepresentativeAdvertising AgentAdvertising AssistantAdvertising ConsultantAdvertising CoordinatorAdvertising RepresentativeAdvertising Sales Representative (Ad Sales Representative)+20 more

📑Specializations

This career includes 5 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.

🔗Related Careers

Other careers in sales

🔗Data Sources

Last updated: 2026-01-09

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