Jobs Similar to Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products)
Also called: Outside Sales Representatives
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products), according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products), Retail Salespersons and Insurance Sales Agents.
Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products): $72,080 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products)) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsSame group | 81% | $104,920+46% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Retail Salespersons | 80% | $35,410−51% | High school |
| 3 | Insurance Sales Agents | 79% | $62,280−14% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Telemarketers | 78% | $35,450−51% | High school |
| 5 | Real Estate Sales Agents | 78% | $52,830−27% | High school |
| 6 | Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | 77% | $41,380−43% | High school |
| 7 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 77% | $69,990−3% | High school |
| 8 | Real Estate Brokers | 76% | $73,220+2% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Online Merchants | 76% | $83,050Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Advertising Sales Agents | 76% | $64,820−10% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Travel Agents | 75% | $50,160−30% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | 75% | $78,660+9% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Solar Sales Representatives and AssessorsSame group | 75% | $104,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 14 | Customer Service Representatives | 74% | $44,770−38% | High school |
| 15 | Counter and Rental Clerks | 73% | $41,300−43% | High school |
| 16 | Fundraisers | 73% | $72,550+1% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Insurance Underwriters | 73% | $81,370+13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Fundraising Managers | 73% | $125,470+74% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Loan Officers | 73% | $76,690+6% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Sales Managers | 72% | $148,270+106% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
81% similar · $104,920 (+46%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Retail Salespersons
80% similar · $35,410 (−51%) · High school
- 3Insurance Sales Agents
79% similar · $62,280 (−14%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Telemarketers
78% similar · $35,450 (−51%) · High school
- 5Real Estate Sales Agents
78% similar · $52,830 (−27%) · High school
- 6Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers
77% similar · $41,380 (−43%) · High school
- 7Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
77% similar · $69,990 (−3%) · High school
- 8Real Estate Brokers
76% similar · $73,220 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Online Merchants
76% similar · $83,050 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 10Advertising Sales Agents
76% similar · $64,820 (−10%) · Training or associate
- 11Travel Agents
75% similar · $50,160 (−30%) · Training or associate
- 12Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
75% similar · $78,660 (+9%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors
75% similar · $104,920 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 14Customer Service Representatives
74% similar · $44,770 (−38%) · High school
- 15Counter and Rental Clerks
73% similar · $41,300 (−43%) · High school
- 16Fundraisers
73% similar · $72,550 (+1%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Insurance Underwriters
73% similar · $81,370 (+13%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Fundraising Managers
73% similar · $125,470 (+74%) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Loan Officers
73% similar · $76,690 (+6%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Sales Managers
72% similar · $148,270 (+106%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products).
- Sales Managers72% similar · $148,270 (+106%)
- Fundraising Managers73% similar · $125,470 (+74%)
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products81% similar · $104,920 (+46%)
- Insurance Underwriters73% similar · $81,370 (+13%)
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents75% similar · $78,660 (+9%)
- Loan Officers73% similar · $76,690 (+6%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Retail Salespersons80% similar · High school
- Telemarketers78% similar · High school
- Real Estate Sales Agents78% similar · High school
- Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers77% similar · High school
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel77% similar · High school
- Advertising Sales Agents76% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products) also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products) is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products)
What jobs are most similar to sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products)?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products) (81% similar), Retail Salespersons (80% similar), Insurance Sales Agents (79% similar), Telemarketers (78% similar) and Real Estate Sales Agents (78% similar).
Which jobs like sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products) pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Sales Managers ($148,270, +106%; usually a bachelor's degree), Fundraising Managers ($125,470, +74%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products) ($104,920, +46%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products) ($72,080). Without more preparation than sales representatives (wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products) usually need: Sales Managers, Fundraising Managers and Sales Representatives (Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products).
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.