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.

Also called: District Sales Manager, Fractional Sales Executive, National Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, Sales and Marketing VP (Sales and Marketing Vice President), Sales Director, Sales Manager, Sales Operations Manager (Sales Ops Manager), Sales Supervisor, Sales VP (Sales Vice President), Account Manager, Area Sales Manager, Area Supervisor, BD Director (Business Development Director), BD Executive (Business Development Executive), BD Manager (Business Development Manager), Business Developer, Channel Manager, Client Relationship Manager, Commercial Director, Commercial Sales Manager, Dealership Manager, Department Store Manager, District Manager, Division Manager, E-Commerce Director (Electronic Commerce Director), Export Manager, Global Account Manager (GAM), Hotel Sales Manager, Import Export Manager, Inside Sales Manager, Marketing Sales Supervisor, National Account Manager, Professional Equipment Sales and Service Manager, Regional Director, Regional Manager, Regional Sales Director, Retail Chain Store Area Supervisor, Retail District Manager, Sales Account Manager, Sales and Marketing Director, Sales and Marketing Manager, Sales Coordinator, Sales Promotion Manager, Territory Manager, Territory Sales Manager, Utility Sales and Service Manager, Vehicle Leasing and Rental Manager, Zone Manager

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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, machines and equipment

Active Listening
Speaking
Negotiation
Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Social Perceptiveness
Persuasion
Judgment and Decision Making
Management of Personnel Resources
Active Learning
Coordination

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (71.43% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

O*NET Job Zone 4: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

100,360–207,340 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 11-2022.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Suggested development: build experience in safety leadership, staff development, budgeting, and continuous improvement before seeking responsibility for a larger department or plant.
Possible next steps include broader operations or multi-site leadership; vacancies, qualifications, and advancement are employer-specific, not guaranteed.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (71.43% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET Job Zone 4: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Sales Managers