What Does it Take to Be a Sales Manager?
Sales Manager Definition 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.
What Do Sales Managers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Advise dealers and distributors on policies and operating procedures to ensure functional effectiveness of business.
- Visit franchised dealers to stimulate interest in establishment or expansion of leasing programs.
- Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate or other subjects of sale.
- Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
- Determine price schedules and discount rates.
- Direct clerical staff to keep records of export correspondence, bid requests, and credit collections, and to maintain current information on tariffs, licenses, and restrictions.
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Sales Manager Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Sales Managers say are important on the job.
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.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Sales Manager Jobs
- Commercial Director
- National Account Manager
- Area Sales Manager
- Territory Manager
- Sales Vice President
What Kind of Sales Manager Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 385,500 jobs for Sales Manager in 2016. 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.
Sales Manager Average Salary
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 different U.S. states?
| 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?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Sales Managers may use on a daily basis:
- 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
- SAS
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
Becoming a Sales Manager
Individuals working as a Sales Manager have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Sales Manager?
Where 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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