Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

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.

Also called: Inside Sales Representative, Marketing Representative, Sales Representative, Abrasives Sales Representative, Agricultural Sales Representative, Aircraft Equipment and Parts Sales Representative, Aircraft Sales Representative, Animal Feed Products Sales Representative, Authorized Retailer, Auto Sales Consultant (Automotive Sales Consultant), Building Equipment and Supplies Sales Representative, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Chemical Sales Representative, Chemicals and Drugs Sales Representative, Commercial Solar Sales Consultant, Communication Equipment Sales Representative, Computer Sales Representative, Construction Machinery Sales Representative, Dairy Supplies Sales Representative, Dental and Medical Equipment and Supplies Sales Representative, Dental Detail Representative, EDP Systems Sales Representative (Electronic Data Processing Systems Sales Representative), Electrical Sales Representative, Electronic Sales Representative, Electronics Parts Sales Representative, Electroplating Sales Representative, Elevators, Escalators, and Dumbwaiters Sales Representative, Enterprise Salesperson, Farm and Garden Equipment and Supplies Sales Representative, Field Marketing Representative, Field Sales Representative (Field Sales Rep), Field Service Representative, Foundry and Machine Shop Products Sales Representative, Green Building Materials Distributor, Healthcare Sales Representative, Industrial Machinery Sales Representative, Instruments Sales Representative, Lubricating Equipment Sales Representative, Material Handling Equipment Sales Representative, Mechanical Equipment Sales Representative, Medical Detail Representative, Medical Device Sales Representative (Medical Device Sales Rep), Medical Field Representative, Medical Sales Representative, Medical Service Representative, Metals Sales Representative, Milking Machines Sales Service Representative, Oil Field Supplies and Equipment Sales Representative, Outside Sales Consultant, Outside Sales Executive, Outside Sales Representative, Pharmaceutical Detailer, Pharmaceutical Representative, Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist, Pharmaceutical Salesperson, Pharmaceutical Service Representative, Pharmacy Sales Representative, Poultry Equipment and Supplies Sales Representative, Precision Instruments Sales Representative, Primary Care Pharmaceutical Sales Representative (Primary Care Pharma Sales Rep), Radiographic Inspection Equipment and Services Sales Representative, Railroad Equipment and Supplies Sales Representative, Recyclable Materials Distributor, Retail Merchandiser, Route Sales Representative (Route Sales Rep), Sales Agronomist, Sales Consultant, Sales Engineer, Sales Specialist, Surgical Appliances Salesperson, Surgical Instruments Sales Representative, Sustainable Products Sales Representative, Technical Sales Representative, Technical Sales Specialist, Technical Service Representative, Territory Sales Representative (Territory Sales Rep), Textile Machinery Sales Representative, Ultrasonic Equipment Sales Representative, Utility Sales Representative, Veterinarian Supplies Sales Representative, Water Treatment Chemicals Sales Representative, Weighing and Force Measurement Instruments Sales Representative, Welding Equipment Sales Representative, Wholesale Ultrasonic Equipment Salesperson, Wire Rope Sales Representative, Wireless Sales Representative (Wireless Sales Rep)

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

What the worker does

Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.
Contact new or existing customers to discuss how specific products or services can meet their needs.
Emphasize product features, based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.
Compute customer's installation or production costs and estimate savings from new services, products, or equipment.
Select or assist customers in selecting products based on customer needs, product specifications, and applicable regulations.

Skills, machines and equipment

Speaking
Persuasion
Active Listening
Negotiation
Social Perceptiveness
Reading Comprehension
Service Orientation
Coordination
Active Learning
Writing
Critical Thinking
Complex Problem Solving

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (39.48% 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

75,030–158,160 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 41-4011.

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

Career advancement

Develop reliable production, safety, quality, and equipment skills; explore additional processes, senior specialist, or team-lead responsibilities relevant to your workplace.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: Bachelor's Degree (39.48% 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 Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products