A wholesale or manufacturing sales representative sells products to businesses and organizations. You build relationships with clients, understand their needs, and close deals. Most start with a high school diploma and learn on the job. The work is in demand and offers real earning potential.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
You sell products made by manufacturers or wholesalers to businesses, retailers, and other organizations. Your day involves meeting with clients, understanding what they need, presenting solutions, and negotiating terms. You stay current on your products and your industry. You handle paperwork, track orders, and report to your manager. You solve problems when orders go wrong or clients have questions. Strong communication and listening skills matter because you spend time building trust with repeat customers and closing deals.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products earn a median of $72,080 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is modest. Employment is projected to grow 0 percent from 2024 to 2034, little or no change for all occupations, with about 114,800 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
Most positions require a high school diploma or equivalent. Employers value sales experience, even if it is in retail or customer service. Many companies hire entry-level reps and provide on-the-job training in their products and sales methods. You will learn how to prospect, pitch, and close. Some roles may require a driver's license for client visits. Consider taking courses in sales, business, or communication to stand out. Start by applying to wholesale distributors or manufacturers in your area.
Many people enter this field through entry-level sales roles or move up from retail. If you are deciding between jumping in now or building more sales experience first, Pathly can map the sales representative, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products path that fits you and work through the options with your counselor.
Many sales representative, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific productss must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You are enterprising, persuasive, and goal-oriented. You enjoy influencing others, building relationships, and closing deals. You thrive in competitive environments and like seeing direct results from your 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).