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Retail
Walmart, Target, Macy's
Sales and Related Workers, All Other
This is a catch-all sales role for workers whose products, customers, or selling style do not fit a standard sales title. The work often mixes outreach, product explanations, follow-up, and closing, so the day can swing from customer service to persuasion to paperwork. The main tradeoff is flexibility versus certainty: the role is easier to enter than many jobs, but the career ladder and pay can vary a lot by employer and commission structure.
Also known as Sales SpecialistSales ConsultantSales AssociateSales AdvisorSales Executive
Median Salary
$46,370
Mean $57,030
U.S. Workforce
~99K
16K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.7%
122.6K to 127.1K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Sales and Related Workers, All Other sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~99K workers, with a median annual pay of $46,370 and roughly 16K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 122.6 K in 2024 to 127.1K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or GED, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Sales Assistant and can progress toward Account Lead. High-value skills usually include Salesforce, HubSpot & CRM Platforms, Lead Qualification & Prospecting, and Consultative Selling & Objection Handling, paired with soft skills such as Persuasion, Active Listening, and Clear Communication.
Core Responsibilities
- Reach out to potential customers, follow up on leads, and keep the sales pipeline moving.
- Explain products or services in plain language so customers can compare options and understand pricing.
- Answer customer questions, handle objections, and try to move deals toward a sale.
- Record calls, meetings, and order details in a CRM system so nothing gets lost.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Reach out to potential customers, follow up on leads, and keep the sales pipeline moving.
02 Explain products or services in plain language so customers can compare options and understand pricing.
03 Answer customer questions, handle objections, and try to move deals toward a sale.
04 Record calls, meetings, and order details in a CRM system so nothing gets lost.
05 Prepare quotes, process orders, and make sure the paperwork matches what was promised.
06 Coordinate with shipping, service, or account teams when a sale needs changes, updates, or after-sale support.
Industries That Hire
📱
Telecommunications
AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile
📦
Wholesale & Distribution
Grainger, Uline, Fastenal
💼
Insurance & Financial Services
State Farm, New York Life, Northwestern Mutual
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Manufacturing & Industrial Equipment
Caterpillar, 3M, John Deere
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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It is relatively easy to enter: the BLS says a high school diploma or equivalent is usually enough, with no prior experience required.
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The field offers decent earnings upside, with a mean annual wage of $57,030 versus a median of $46,370, which suggests some workers do much better than others.
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There are about 16,000 annual openings, so people who are ready to sell and follow up have a steady number of chances to get hired.
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The skills you build here—talking to customers, handling objections, and closing deals—transfer to many other sales jobs.
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The work can be varied, since this category covers many employers and products instead of one narrow type of sales.
Challenges
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Pay can be uneven, and the median wage of $46,370 is not especially high for a job that can involve quotas, rejection, and pressure to close.
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Projected growth is only 3.7% through 2034, so this is not a fast-growing field with a big expansion story.
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Because this is a broad catch-all category, the job can have a vague career path and fewer clearly defined promotions than more specialized sales roles.
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A lot of the role depends on human selling, but customer self-service and online ordering can reduce demand for some of the routine work.
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Income may depend on commissions or performance targets, which can make monthly pay unpredictable even when the annual average looks reasonable.
Career Progression
Sales Assistant
0-2 years
$28K-$38K
New workers usually learn products, shadow experienced staff, and handle basic customer questions, order entry, and follow-up.
Sales and Related Worker, All Other
2-5 years
$40K-$58K
At this stage, workers handle their own leads or accounts, explain options, and work to meet monthly sales targets.
Senior Sales Specialist THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$59K-$82K
Experienced workers manage tougher accounts, negotiate more complex deals, and often help train newer staff.
Account Lead
8-12 years
$83K-$110K
Leads often oversee key customers or territories, set sales strategies, and may coach a small team or handle high-value accounts.
Education Paths
High school diploma or GED
The BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry point for this role, with no work experience or on-the-job training required.
Some college in business, marketing, or communications
Some employers prefer candidates who have taken college courses in sales, business, or communication, especially for roles that involve more product knowledge or account handling.
Sales certificate or employer sales training
A short sales certificate or vendor training can help candidates stand out, especially when the job leans heavily on product knowledge or customer-facing skills.
Key Skills
Technical
Salesforce, HubSpot & CRM Platforms 82%
Lead Qualification & Prospecting 80%
Consultative Selling & Objection Handling 76%
Point-of-Sale & Order Management Systems 68%
Excel & Sales Reporting 62%
Soft Skills
PersuasionActive ListeningClear CommunicationPersistenceOrganizationRelationship Building Job Outlook and Trends
+3.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
16K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 122.6K to 127.1 K over the next decade, representing 3.7% growth. Around 16 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Moderate. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.