Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Sales and Related · SOC 41-4011 · O*NET 41-4011.00
Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products fall under the Sales and Related category in the U.S. occupational classification. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products earn a median salary of $100,070 per year, ranking in the top 14% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +1.9% 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 sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products earn?
The median annual wage for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products is $100,070. That puts sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products at #110 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. 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) | $48,840 |
| 25th percentile | $65,640 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $100,070 |
| 75th percentile | $146,150 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $194,890 |
| Median hourly wage | $48.11/hr |
Is sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products is +1.9%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 303K positions in 2024 to 308K in 2034, a net change of 5K. 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 sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
- 2.Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
- 3.Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
- 4.Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
- 5.Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.
- 6.Emphasize product features, based on analyses of customers' needs and on technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.
- 7.Prepare sales presentations or proposals to explain product specifications or applications.
- 8.Verify that delivery schedules meet project deadlines.
Top skills for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
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 sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific product?
Many sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products 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
- Models$89,990 median
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$84,130 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 sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products
What is the median salary for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products?
The median annual salary for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products is $100,070 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products a growing career?
BLS projects +1.9% growth for sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific product?
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 sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products?
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.