Is sales a high-paying career?
With an entrepreneurial spirit and excellent rapport-building skills, a sales career can indeed be a lucrative and rewarding career option.
Ranking as the 3rd highest paying job without a degree, anyone can become a sales representative if they have the right skill set and drive.
Plus, the job outlook for sales professionals is projected to grow 5% by 2031, with an estimated 41,900 job openings for sales managers each year.
So, if you are looking for the highest-paying sales jobs to kick-start your career, you’re in the right place.
Read on to get an insight into a curated list of the highest-paying sales job and provide clarification on the following related questions:
- What is a sales job?
- How to land highest paying sales jobs?
- What are the highest paying sales jobs?
- What are the highest paying medical sales jobs?
What Is a Sales Job?
Although the nitty gritty of what the job description of a sales role entails can vary widely based on the industry and employer, the primary objective of a sales representative is to sell products or services to potential clients.
Some sales jobs can simply include selling products or services at set prices, while others can include more complex responsibilities such as negotiating contracts and generating leads.
On a broad level, high-paying sales jobs can fall into the following 6 categories:
- Sales strategist
- Product specialists
- Market specialists
- Sales processes
- Technical operations
- Sales management
Depending on your educational background, experience in the industry, and skillset, you can take up sales jobs that match your qualifications.
However, before you decide that a sales career is for you, you must be certain of your capabilities because, in most sales roles, your salary will depend on how many deals you close.
On the brighter side, this same aspect can prove to be a boon for you as there will be no cap on your income and growth opportunities when you do it right.
Also Read: What does the job of a sales manager entail?
How to Get into Sales Jobs?
To make the most out of your sales career and bag some of the highest-paying paying sales careers, you must first assess your skills and preferences.
Given below are some tips to help you land the best sales jobs:
Research Your Options
Take your time to learn about the various sales roles in different industries and analyze their job descriptions and requirements against your qualifications.
Choose an industry that piques your interest and a role that you’re qualified for.
Sales positions are available across almost all industries such as healthcare, finance, marketing, IT, and education.
Get Certified
The best way to hone your sales skills and double your chances of getting hired for the highest-paying sales jobs is by getting certified.
Consider enrolling in an in-demand online sales training or course like any of the following:
- Certified Professional Sales Person (CPSP)
- Certified Inside Sales Professional (CISP)
- Certified Professional Sales Leader (CPSL)
- SPIN selling
- Certified Sales Executive
- RISE up
- Certified Sales Development Representative (CSDR)
- Customer Service and Sales Certified Specialist
Build a Great Resume
Since your resume is the base of your first impression on the recruiters and the determining factor for your chances of getting hired, it needs to be impressive.
Ensure to add plenty of keywords in your resume to help it rank high in the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) that recruiters use to select the most qualified candidates.
Also, tailor your resume according to the job description provided in the listing so that your resume highlights only the most relevant details about your career trajectory in terms of role requirements.
Also Read: How to write a stellar sales representative resume in 2022?
Highest Paying Sales Jobs
Most of the highest-paying sales jobs require leadership skills and ample experience in the industry.
However, if your pay or compensation is based on the number of sales you make, there is no cap on your income.
Given below are some of the highest-paying sales jobs from various industries that you can consider:
Real Estate Agent
Average annual income: $93493
Real estate agents are licensed professionals who work with clients to help them buy, sell, and rent properties.
They usually work under the supervision of a licensed broker and earn based on the commissions they make with every successful sale.
Although the requirements to become a real estate agent can vary by state, the general requirements include taking relevant courses and passing a state exam to become licensed.
Advertising Sales Representative
Average annual income: $56699
As the name suggests, advertising sales representatives are responsible for selling advertising space or air space to companies, businesses, and other clients.
They are employed by newspapers, advertising companies, magazines, broadcasting companies, trade journals, etc.
To excel in this role, you must have excellent persuasive skills and must be able to convince clients how marketing & advertising their products or services can do wonders for them.
This means you must have sound knowledge of marketing, advertising, and sales.
Sales Engineer
Average annual income: $86111
The job profile of a sales engineer is one of the highest-paying sales jobs suitable for those interested in working in the IT industry.
These professionals sell complex technological and scientific products and/or services to companies and businesses.
The general requirement to become a sales engineer is a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field. Most employers also seek experience or sound knowledge of software development and web technologies.
Regional Sales Manager
Average annual salary: $102,615
Regional sales managers oversee the sales & marketing of products or services in a specific geographic area and also manage a lot of staff.
Some of the primary duties of a sales manager include strategizing sales plans and quotas with respect to business objectives, analyzing regional market trends, and coming up with innovative sales techniques.
The minimum educational qualification required to become a regional sales manager is a bachelor’s degree in sales or marketing.
Also, having relevant experience in the industry in a similar position is a mandatory requirement for this role.
Sales Director
Average annual salary: $103,141
The role of a sales director is an executive one and hence requires potential candidates to have extensive experience in a relevant leadership role.
They are responsible for overseeing sales managers, developing sales action plans, maximizing profits, and ensuring the overall smooth functioning of sales operations in the company.
Apart from this, the job description of this role also includes building & maintaining long-term relationships with clients, budgeting, and hiring recruits.
Also Read: What are the salary trends of sales managers in 2022?
Highest Paying Medical Sales Jobs
Medical sales positions are some of the most sought-after sales roles that pay impressively well.
Although the workload and the competition can be tough, it is a lucrative career with ample growth opportunities.
Most medical sales jobs will require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical business or any related field, along with some licenses and certifications.
The following are some of the highest-paying medical sales jobs with their average salaries:
| JOB TITLE | AVERAGE SALARY |
|---|---|
| Medical device sales representative | $79,682 |
| Pharmaceutical sales representative | $115,244 |
| Medical equipment sales representative | $188,351 |
| Biotech sales representative | $142,776 |
| Surgical sales representative | $176,056 |
Also Read: What are some of the best resume examples for medical sales representatives?
Key Points from the Blog
- While the job description of a sales position can vary based on the industry and employer, the primary objective of a sales representative is to sell products or services to potential clients.
- Your income in most sales jobs will be compensation-based, which means the greater the number of sales you make, the higher your income.
- Sales positions are available across almost all industries, such as healthcare, finance, marketing, IT, and education.
- Some of the highest-paying sales jobs include real estate agents, sales directors, regional sales managers, and sales engineers.
- Most medical sales jobs will require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical business or any related field, along with some licenses and certifications.
If you require expert guidance to land the highest-paying sales jobs, visit Hiration’s Career Activator Platform, which offers 24x7 chat support. You can also write to us at support@hiration.com with any career-related questions.
