Life As 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.
A Day in the Life of a Sales Manager
- Direct clerical staff to keep records of export correspondence, bid requests, and credit collections, and to maintain current information on tariffs, licenses, and restrictions.
- Visit franchised dealers to stimulate interest in establishment or expansion of leasing programs.
- Direct, coordinate, and review activities in sales and service accounting and record-keeping, and in receiving and shipping operations.
- Represent company at trade association meetings to promote products.
- Confer or consult with department heads to plan advertising services and to secure information on equipment and customer specifications.
- Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
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What a Sales Manager Should Know
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
- Import Export Manager
- Marketing Sales Supervisor
- Retail District Manager
- Sales Vice President
- Zone Manager
Is There Going to be Demand for Sales Managers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 385,500 jobs in the United States for Sales Manager. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 36,300 job openings in this field each 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.
Average Sales Managers Salary
Sales Managers make between $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 & Technology 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
- SAS
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
How do I Become a Sales Manager?
Are there Sales Managers education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Sales Manager?

Sales Managers Sector

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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