A background in sales is applicable in virtually every industry, but specific positions often depend on your educational background and expertise. If you’ve got a talent for selling but a limited formal education in this area, you can still find work in retail sales, advertising sales, real estate sales, or other sectors that offer industry-specific training. If you have a bachelor’s degree in more specialized areas such as science and technology, you can make a higher salary as a wholesale or manufacturing sales representative that sells directly to businesses and other organizations instead of consumers.
Experienced sales representatives in any industry can work their way up to the position of sales manager, responsible for directing organizations’ sales teams, including creating sales strategies, developing training programs for representatives, and setting and tracking sales performance goals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sales managers make a median annual salary of $126,640 per year, and often have an education in management, marketing, or other related areas in addition to sales experience.