Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products)
O*NET title: Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
Also called: Sales Representatives, Technical 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: Abrasives Sales Representative, Agricultural Sales Representative, Aircraft Equipment and Parts Sales Representative, Aircraft Sales Representative, Animal Feed Products Sales Representative, Authorized Retailer
Median pay
$104,920
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$52,600 – $200,440
People employed
284,800
Holland code
ECI
Enterprising · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 2.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 3.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products) pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (48 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products) do
- 01Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
- 02Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
- 03Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
- 04Sell service contracts for technical or scientific products.
- 05Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
- 06Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Perseverance
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products)
- Sales Engineers88% · +19%
- Sales Managers85% · +41%
- Purchasing Managers80% · +41%
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers78% · −17%
- Marketing Managers76% · +59%
Change into sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products)
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Sales Engineers85% · $124,900
- Online Merchants83% · $83,050
- Insurance Sales Agents79% · $62,280
- Advertising Sales Agents78% · $64,820
- Insurance Underwriters78% · $81,370
Majors that lead here
- Selling Skills and Sales Operations
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.