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Telecommunications
AT&T, Verizon, Comcast
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Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
These sales reps sell services rather than physical products, so they spend a lot of time explaining what a contract, subscription, or support plan actually includes and why it is worth the price. The work is distinct because success depends on translating abstract offerings into something a customer can compare, trust, and buy. The tradeoff is strong earning potential in some accounts, but constant price pressure, rejection, and follow-up work can make the job grindy.
Also known as Service Sales RepresentativeAccount ExecutiveSales ExecutiveSales ConsultantInside Sales Representative
Median Salary
$66,260
Mean $81,260
U.S. Workforce
~1.2M
123K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.1%
1226.7K to 1264.7K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel 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 ~1.2M workers, with a median annual pay of $66,260 and roughly 123K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 1226.7 K in 2024 to 1264.7K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or equivalent, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Sales Development Representative and can progress toward Sales Manager, Services. High-value skills usually include Salesforce, HubSpot & CRM Platforms, Prospecting, Lead Qualification & Outreach Sequencing, and Proposal Writing & Sales Presentations, paired with soft skills such as Relationship building, Active listening, and Persuasion.
Core Responsibilities
- Answer questions about what the service costs, what is included, when it is available, and how payment terms work.
- Reach out to new or existing customers to learn what they need and see whether the service is a fit.
- Build sales presentations and proposals that clearly explain the service and why it solves the customer’s problem.
- Compare pricing and package options so you can recommend the most practical choice for the client.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Answer questions about what the service costs, what is included, when it is available, and how payment terms work.
02 Reach out to new or existing customers to learn what they need and see whether the service is a fit.
03 Build sales presentations and proposals that clearly explain the service and why it solves the customer’s problem.
04 Compare pricing and package options so you can recommend the most practical choice for the client.
05 Prepare quotes, agreements, and other paperwork needed to finish the sale.
06 Follow up after the contract is signed to handle problems, keep the customer happy, and stay current on market changes through meetings and industry news.
Industries That Hire
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Information Technology Services
IBM, Accenture, CDW
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Staffing & Recruiting
Robert Half, Randstad, Adecco
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Logistics & Supply Chain
UPS, FedEx, C.H. Robinson
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Facilities & Business Support Services
Sodexo, Aramark, ABM Industries
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Office Equipment & Managed Services
Xerox, Ricoh, Konica Minolta
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can enter the field with a high school diploma and moderate on-the-job training, so the barrier to entry is lower than in many office careers.
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There are a lot of openings: about 123,000 a year, which means employers are hiring constantly across many industries.
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The pay can be solid for the education level, with a median of $66,260 and a mean of $81,260 for workers who build a strong book of business.
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The skills transfer well between industries because the same basic work applies whether you sell telecom, staffing, logistics, or IT services.
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Performance is easy to track, so strong sellers can often see results, commissions, or promotions more quickly than in less measurable jobs.
Challenges
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Growth is modest at 3.1% through 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field compared with many other occupations.
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Income can be uneven because sales roles often depend on commissions, quotas, and the quality of the accounts you are assigned.
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A big part of the day can be rejection, repeated follow-up, and trying to convince customers who are comparing you against lower-priced options.
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The long-term ceiling can be limited if you stay in the same rep role; the bigger pay jumps often come from management or key-account work.
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The large number of openings can reflect turnover and sales pressure, not just growth, so the job may involve constant prospecting and frequent performance reviews.
Career Progression
Sales Development Representative
0-2 years
$42K-$58K
Focuses on finding leads, making first contact, and setting up meetings for more experienced sellers.
Service Sales Representative
2-5 years
$60K-$85K
Handles customer conversations, pricing, proposals, and closing service contracts, often juggling several accounts at once.
Senior Service Sales Representative THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$86K-$112K
Works larger or more complex accounts, handles tougher negotiations, and often mentors newer reps.
Sales Manager, Services
8+ years
$113K-$155K
Leads a team, sets targets, reviews pipeline performance, and helps shape pricing and territory strategy.
Education Paths
High school diploma or equivalent
This is the typical entry point for the role, with most people learning the job through employer training rather than a formal degree requirement.
Some college or associate degree in business, marketing, or communications
A shorter college path can help with pricing, customer communication, and sales software, especially for candidates who want a faster route into the field.
Bachelor's degree in business, sales, marketing, or a related field
A four-year degree is an alternative path that can help applicants stand out for more competitive accounts or faster promotion tracks.
Sales certificate or employer-sponsored training
Short-term sales training, product certification, or vendor-specific onboarding can be enough to get started when paired with strong communication skills.
Key Skills
Technical
Salesforce, HubSpot & CRM Platforms 88%
Prospecting, Lead Qualification & Outreach Sequencing 85%
Proposal Writing & Sales Presentations 80%
Pricing, Quoting & Cost Analysis 77%
Microsoft Excel & Sales Reporting 72%
Contract, Order & Pipeline Management 68%
Soft Skills
Relationship buildingActive listeningPersuasionNegotiationPersistenceFollow-up discipline Job Outlook and Trends
+3.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
123K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 1226.7K to 1264.7 K over the next decade, representing 3.1% growth. Around 123 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.