State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products earn a median of $104,920 per year ($50.44/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 1.9% through 2034, with about 27,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 41-4011Sales and RelatedLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $104,920
- Projected growth
- +1.9%
- Openings a year
- 27,200
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Inside Sales Representative, Marketing Representative, Sales Representative.
How much do Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products make?
10th percentile$52,600
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$75,030
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$104,920
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$158,160
Upper quartile
90th percentile$200,440
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $104,920 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $50.44/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $119,730 |
| People employed | 284,800 |
Versus all US occupations
At $104,920, Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products earn 106% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $53,940 a year.
Versus sales and related occupations
Inside the Sales and Related group, where the middle occupation pays $51,495, this is 104% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $200,440 or more while the bottom 10% earn $52,600, a gap of 3.8×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 82% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Colorado posts the highest raw median ($135,000), but once local prices are taken into account Kansas leads at $145,279 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $135,000 | $131,002 | 4,150 |
| New Jersey | $131,360 | $120,730 | 5,600 |
| Kansas | $130,850 | $145,279 | 2,440 |
| New York | $129,410 | $119,912 | 10,500 |
| Georgia | $128,850 | $133,810 | 5,700 |
| Virginia | $128,270 | $126,869 | 6,060 |
| Washington | $127,390 | $119,042 | 9,960 |
| Hawaii | $126,110 | $114,697 | 540 |
| Michigan | $125,650 | $130,590 | 9,140 |
| North Carolina | $125,370 | $132,911 | 11,990 |
Is Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product a growing career?
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products1.9%
All US occupations3.1%
+1.9% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products to change 1.9% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 5,700 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 27,200 openings are projected each year, 9.0% of the 303,200 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Despite limited employment growth, about 142,100 openings for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives varies by occupation (see table).
How to become a Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product
Selling technical and scientific products requires no licence and no certification: BLS records professional certification for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives as something some choose to earn, not something required. There is one real exception, and it catches pharmaceutical and medical sales people out. The District of Columbia licenses pharmaceutical detailers. Under the SafeRx Amendment Act of 2008, anyone who communicates in person with a licensed health professional on behalf of a pharmaceutical manufacturer or labeler, in order to sell, promote or give information about a pharmaceutical product, must hold a licence from the DC Board of Pharmacy.
The credential path, step by step
- Get the degree the technical sale actually requires4 years
BLS records a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for representatives selling technical and scientific products, in contrast to a high school diploma or equivalent for the rest of the wholesale and manufacturing sales group. The field of the degree usually tracks the product being sold.
- Treat certification as optional, because it is
BLS states plainly that although not required, some wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives choose to earn professional certification. No certifying body gates entry to the occupation, and no state licenses it as such.
- Check whether the specific product you will sell is separately regulated
Pharmaceutical detailing in the District of Columbia is the clearest case: an individual must be licensed by the DC Board of Pharmacy before engaging in the practice, the application fee is $175, and licensees must show 15 hours of continuing education at renewal. The rules sit in DC Code title 3, chapter 12, subchapter VII-D and in DC Municipal Regulations title 17. If your territory includes DC, this applies to you regardless of where you live.
- How long the training takes
4 years for a bachelor's degree
BLS records a bachelor's degree as typical for the technical and scientific products group and a high school diploma or equivalent for the wider wholesale and manufacturing sales occupation. Where a jurisdiction does license the activity, as the District of Columbia does for pharmaceutical detailers, the requirement is an application and a fee rather than a course of study.
- Continuing education
Not required
None for the occupation. Licensed pharmaceutical detailers in the District of Columbia must submit proof of 15 hours of continuing education to renew.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
The occupation is not licensed by any state. What varies is whether the specific product category is regulated in the jurisdiction where you call on customers. The District of Columbia is the clear example: it regulates the practice of pharmaceutical detailing through its Board of Pharmacy alongside the practice of pharmacy itself, defining detailing as communicating in person with a licensed health professional to sell, provide information about or promote a pharmaceutical product on behalf of a manufacturer or labeler. Sales representatives should check the jurisdictions in their territory rather than only the one they live in.
Who governs the credential
- District of Columbia Board of Pharmacy — Licenses pharmaceutical detailers in the District of Columbia and regulates the practice of pharmaceutical detailing alongside the practice of pharmacy, under the SafeRx Amendment Act of 2008. It is the only body in the entry path for this occupation, and only for that one activity in that one jurisdiction.
Credential detail for sales representative, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives · checked August 23, 2026
- DC Health: SafeRx Pharmaceutical Detailers · checked August 23, 2026
- DC Law Library: Subchapter VII-D, Pharmaceutical Detailers, Scope of Practice, Qualifications for Licensure, Continuing Education, Penalties · checked August 23, 2026
- DC Health: Pharmaceutical Detailer FAQs · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Educational requirements vary with the type of product sold. If the products are not scientific or technical, a high school diploma is generally enough for entry into the occupation. If the products are scientific or technical, sales representatives typically need at least a bachelor’s degree.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products.
- Bachelor's Degree39.5%
- Some College Courses30.5%
- High School Diploma14.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate13.8%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate1.6%
What does a Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product do?
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. They contact customers, explain the features of the products they are selling, negotiate prices, and answer any questions that their customers may have about the products.
Day-to-day tasks
- Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
- Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs.
- Complete expense reports, sales reports, or other paperwork.
- Collaborate with colleagues to exchange information, such as selling strategies or marketing information.
- Inform customers of estimated delivery schedules, service contracts, warranties, or other information pertaining to purchased products.
- Attend sales or trade meetings or read related publications to obtain information about market conditions, business trends, environmental regulations, or industry developments.
- Identify prospective customers, using business directories, leads from existing clients, participation in organizations, or trade show or conference attendance.
- Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives work full time and many work more than 40 hours per week.
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Pressure and stakes
- Handling conflict situations at least monthly
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products work
| Merchant wholesalers, durable goods | 33% |
|---|---|
| Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods | 21% |
| Manufacturing | 18% |
| Wholesale trade agents and brokers | 9% |
| Retail trade | 6% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Speaking4.3/5
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Active Learning3.5/5
- Writing3.4/5
- Critical Thinking3.4/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Mathematics2.9/5
Transferable skills
- Persuasion4.3/5
- Negotiation4.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Service Orientation3.8/5
- Coordination3.6/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Time Management3.1/5
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Data mining software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic2.8
Investigativeprimary3.1
Artistic1.4
Social3.1
Enterprisingprimary5.3
Conventionalprimary5.1
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product: frequently asked questions
How much do Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products make?
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products earn a median of $104,920 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 106% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $50.44/hr. The middle half earn between $75,030 and $158,160. The top 10% earn $200,440 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 39.5% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.9% over 2024–2034 against 3.1% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 27,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product do?
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. A core O*NET task: answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Analytical or scientific software, Customer relationship management CRM software.
Which states pay Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products the most?
The highest state medians for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products are Colorado ($135,000), New Jersey ($131,360), Kansas ($130,850) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Kansas moves to the top at $145,279.
What personality type suits a Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product?
O*NET scores Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product?
4 years for a bachelor's degree. BLS records a bachelor's degree as typical for the technical and scientific products group and a high school diploma or equivalent for the wider wholesale and manufacturing sales occupation. Where a jurisdiction does license the activity, as the District of Columbia does for pharmaceutical detailers, the requirement is an application and a fee rather than a course of study.
Do you need a license to work as a Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product?
Not a state license. The occupation is not licensed by any state. What varies is whether the specific product category is regulated in the jurisdiction where you call on customers. The District of Columbia is the clear example: it regulates the practice of pharmaceutical detailing through its Board of Pharmacy alongside the practice of pharmacy itself, defining detailing as communicating in person with a licensed health professional to sell, provide information about or promote a pharmaceutical product on behalf of a manufacturer or labeler. Sales representatives should check the jurisdictions in their territory rather than only the one they live in.