Job description
Sales managers direct and oversee the sales representatives of an organisation. They’re responsible for devising plans, goals and strategies for the sales department and aim to acquire new customers or clients and increase business revenue.
Sales managers handle customer complaints, prepare budgeting and discounts, analyse customer preferences, and review sales statistics. They’re also in charge of hiring and training new members of the sales team.
Duties
- Direct and oversee sales team
- Devise plans, goals and strategies for sales team
- Acquire new customers or clients
- Increase business revenue
- Handle customer complaints
- Prepare budgeting, discounts or special offers
- Approve expenditures
- Analyse customer preferences to develop sales strategy
- Determine profitability of products and services
- Review sales statistics
- Hire and train new members of sales team
- Make cold-calls
- Attend business-to-business meetings
Skills and qualities
Job outlook
Projected growth
5%
New jobs
20.6k
Automation risk
1.3%
Career progression
Sales managers have the prospect of becoming sales directors in the organisation they work for. There is also the opportunity of advancing to sales VP or chief revenue officer. Some sales managers even move on to marketing-based positions such as marketing manager or business operator.
Working conditions
Average hours
40h/ week
Typical schedule
Full Time
Standard business hours
The majority of a sales manager’s day is spent in an office. However, they may occasionally travel locally, nationally or even internationally to meet and attract new customers or clients.
Their role can be stressful, especially when dealing with several clients at once or when managing a large sales team.
Most sales managers spend time on the phone and also use a lot of email to communicate with existing and potential clients.
Salary
Bottom 10%
$59k
Median
$120k
Top 10%
$170k
Annual salary estimates are based on percentile wage data collected through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey of US workers.
Qualifications and training
Education level
Undergraduate
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject
Study time
4 years
While some positions accept individuals with a high school diploma, most organisations will require that sales managers have a bachelor’s degree at the very least.
It is also useful if you have previous work experience in sales, including as a sales representative, retail sales worker or purchasing agent.
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 2, 2022
