Sales manager
Also known as: group sales manager, sales coordinator, area sales manager, inside sales manager, sales director, international sales manage
About this occupation
Sales managers develop sales and targeting strategies for a company. They manage sales teams, allocate sales resources based on the plans, prioritise and follow up on critical leads, develop sales pitches and adjust them over time, and maintain a sales platform to track all leads and sales.
A specialisation of marketing manager.
Essential skills and knowledge
- marketing mix
- analyse customer service surveys
- plan marketing strategy
- impart business plans to collaborators
- sales department processes
- analyse consumer buying trends
- implement sales strategies
- analyse external factors of companies
- track key performance indicators
- define measurable marketing objectives
- sales strategies
- sales argumentation
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Sales Managers (O*NET 11-2022.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
- Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
- Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
- Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs, and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
- Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
- Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Enterprising, Conventional, Social
Top skills: Active Listening, Speaking, Negotiation, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Monitoring
US median pay: US$148,270 a year (2025), 637,080 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.1)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (4.0)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.2)
- Economics or AccountingO*NET: Economics and AccountingImportant (3.0)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Marketing Managers
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products
- Purchasing Managers
- First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers
- General and Operations Managers
- Advertising Sales Agents
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.