Wholesale & Manufacturing Sales Rep
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations.
What the job is
- The work
- Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations.
BLS
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives work under pressure because their income and job security depend on the amount of merchandise they sell. Some sales representatives travel frequently.
BLS
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Self-starters who like travel, meeting business clients and being paid for results.
- Career cluster
- Marketing & Sales
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives).
- Median pay
- $76,460 a year ($36.76 an hour)
BLS
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 1,571,400
- Typical entry
- See How to Become One
- Training after hire
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- 0%, which BLS calls "little or no change"
BLS
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- −7,700 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Educational requirements vary for sales representatives and depend on the type of products sold. If the products are not scientific or technical, a high school diploma is generally sufficient for entry into the occupation. If the products are scientific or technical, sales representatives typically need at least a bachelor's degree.
BLS
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- In short
- For products that are not scientific or technical, a high school diploma is generally enough. Representatives of scientific and technical products, such as pharmaceuticals, medical instruments or industrial equipment, typically need at least a bachelor's degree. Company training programs may last up to 1 year.
- License
- None
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
-
StateChoose a state
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- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Wholesale and manufacturing sales representative: diploma or a degree that matches the product, then company training
See the roadmap
Route 1: High school diploma → company training → own territory · Route 2: Bachelor's related to the product → technical sales
More careers in Marketing & Sales
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.