What Does it Take to Be a Sales Manager?
Job Description: Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
Life As a Sales Manager
- Represent company at trade association meetings to promote products.
- Visit franchised dealers to stimulate interest in establishment or expansion of leasing programs.
- Direct clerical staff to keep records of export correspondence, bid requests, and credit collections, and to maintain current information on tariffs, licenses, and restrictions.
- Determine price schedules and discount rates.
- Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.
- Confer or consult with department heads to plan advertising services and to secure information on equipment and customer specifications.
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Sales Manager Skills
Sales Managers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Related Job Titles
- Sales Coordinator
- Retail District Manager
- Division Head
- Zone Manager
- Business Development Specialist
Is There Going to be Demand for Sales Managers?
There were about 385,500 jobs for Sales Manager in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 28,900 new jobs for Sales Manager by 2026. There will be an estimated 36,300 positions for Sales Manager per year.
The states with the most job growth for Sales Manager are Utah, Nevada, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Alaska, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Sales Managers Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Sales Managers ranges between about $58,940 and $208,000 a year.
Sales Managers who work in New York, Delaware, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Sales Managers make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $115,750 |
| Alaska | $109,210 |
| Arizona | $113,430 |
| Arkansas | $119,090 |
| California | $134,010 |
| Colorado | $160,320 |
| Connecticut | $152,760 |
| Delaware | $174,940 |
| District of Columbia | $132,870 |
| Florida | $125,050 |
| Georgia | $140,820 |
| Hawaii | $101,480 |
| Idaho | $103,780 |
| Illinois | $131,400 |
| Indiana | $129,020 |
| Iowa | $117,170 |
| Kansas | $147,230 |
| Kentucky | $121,260 |
| Louisiana | $106,850 |
| Maine | $121,130 |
| Maryland | $147,530 |
| Massachusetts | $151,010 |
| Michigan | $142,340 |
| Minnesota | $132,420 |
| Mississippi | $108,100 |
| Missouri | $133,570 |
| Nebraska | $107,030 |
| New Hampshire | $152,120 |
| New Jersey | $168,950 |
| New Mexico | $105,240 |
| New York | $198,390 |
| North Carolina | $147,690 |
| North Dakota | $108,500 |
| Ohio | $134,600 |
| Oklahoma | $111,360 |
| Oregon | $126,340 |
| Pennsylvania | $151,620 |
| Rhode Island | $161,970 |
| South Carolina | $118,750 |
| South Dakota | $128,760 |
| Tennessee | $111,700 |
| Texas | $148,000 |
| Utah | $122,190 |
| Vermont | $140,260 |
| Virginia | $170,760 |
| Washington | $140,700 |
| West Virginia | $102,280 |
| Wisconsin | $135,940 |
| Wyoming | $117,350 |
What Tools do Sales Managers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Sales Managers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Data entry software
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- Structured query language SQL
- Microsoft Dynamics
- SAS
- IBM Notes
Becoming a Sales Manager
Are there Sales Managers education requirements?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Sales Manager?
Where do Sales Managers Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Sales Managers employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Mike Moore via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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