First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Sales and Related · SOC 41-1012 · O*NET 41-1012.00
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers. May perform duties such as budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers fall under the Sales and Related category in the U.S. occupational classification. First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers earn a median salary of $84,130 per year, ranking in the top 21% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers earn?
The median annual wage for first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers is $84,130. That puts first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers at #169 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is above the U.S. median for individual workers and reflects a stable, credentialed occupation. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $48,880 |
| 25th percentile | $62,730 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $84,130 |
| 75th percentile | $118,190 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,120 |
| Median hourly wage | $40.45/hr |
Is first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers is 0.0%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 320K positions in 2024 to 320K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What do first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Monitor sales staff performance to ensure that goals are met.
- 2.Provide staff with assistance in performing difficult or complicated duties.
- 3.Direct and supervise employees engaged in sales, inventory-taking, reconciling cash receipts, or performing specific services.
- 4.Listen to and resolve customer complaints regarding services, products, or personnel.
- 5.Keep records pertaining to purchases, sales, and requisitions.
- 6.Hire, train, and evaluate personnel.
- 7.Confer with company officials to develop methods and procedures to increase sales, expand markets, and promote business.
- 8.Plan and prepare work schedules, and assign employees to specific duties.
Top skills for first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become first-line supervisors of non-retail sales worker?
Many first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
- Sales Engineers$121,520 median
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$100,070 median
- Models$89,990 median
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$78,140 median
- Real Estate Brokers$72,280 median
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$66,780 median
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
What is the median salary for first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers?
The median annual salary for first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers is $84,130 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers a growing career?
BLS projects 0.0% growth for first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become first-line supervisors of non-retail sales worker?
The typical entry path requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to first-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers?
Related occupations within the Sales and Related category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.