Sales representatives of services sell solutions to businesses and individuals across industries like telecommunications, office equipment, and consulting. You pitch products or services, build client relationships, and close deals. Most positions require a high school diploma and on-the-job training.
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You meet with clients to understand their needs and present service offerings that solve their problems. You prepare proposals, negotiate terms, and work to close sales. You maintain relationships with existing customers to encourage repeat business and identify upsell opportunities. You track leads, manage your sales pipeline, and report on your progress. The work is largely independent, though you collaborate with colleagues and support teams. You spend time both in the office and traveling to client sites.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel earn a median of $69,990 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is steady. Employment is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as average for all occupations, with about 123,000 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Start with a high school diploma or equivalent. Many employers hire entry-level sales representatives and provide on-the-job training in their products, services, and sales processes. You will learn how to identify prospects, pitch effectively, and handle objections. Some positions may require you to obtain product-specific certifications or licenses depending on the industry. Building a track record of sales success opens doors to senior roles and management positions.
Most paths into service sales start with a high school diploma and employer training. If you are deciding between jumping in right away or pursuing additional education first, Pathly can map the sales representative of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel path that fits you and work through your options with your counselor.
You thrive in roles that reward initiative, persuasion, and ambition. You enjoy building relationships, solving problems for clients, and driving results through your own effort.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).