Different Types of Sales Jobs | Jobs in sales (2024)

By hiring the right sales positions in your company, you can customize your organization and streamline your sales process.

However, knowing which sales positions are right for your business is easier said than done. There are many sales-related roles, all requiring different skills and having different responsibilities.

There are completely different requirements for an entry-level part-time sales representative, a full-time sales director, and a freelance consultant.

If you want to expand your sales skills, learn the ins and outs of each role.

In this article, we'll show you 15 different sales jobs, the responsibilities of each job title, and when to hire them for your company.

1. Sales Development Representative (SDR)

A Sales Development Representative (SDR) is responsible for generating leads and moving leads through the sales pipeline. Often this position is considered an entry-level role and a stepping stone to sales.

SDRs spend a large portion of their time searching for potential leads through outbound prospecting, which involves lead creationcold callsand sendscold emails.

During these engagement activities, SDRs can begin to determine which prospects are most likely to move through the sales pipeline and become a qualified prospect.

To do this, they figure out whether your product or service fits the prospect's budget, needs and timing. If the lead qualifies, the SDR passes it to a salesperson to proceed with the saleclose the deal.

Sales development representatives also have in-depth product knowledge. They use this knowledge to understand how your product can solve customer problems and accurately evaluate high-quality leads.

Some skills to look for in a candidate for a sales development representative position include:

• Problem solving

• Effective communication

• Ability to conduct strategic research, lead generation and outreach

• Organization and time management

• Independent work

Candidates may not have all of these skills when you hire them. Aim for a candidate with proficiency in most SDR skills and plan to provide support to help them become more well-rounded.

When should you rent an SDR?

Your business will benefit from hiring an SDR when your salespeople or managers need more support. Having an SDR frees up time to close more sales.

Before hiring an SDR, you should already have an ideal customer profile, a compelling value proposition, and paying customerspain pointsyour product dissolves.

From here, SDR can help you streamline your lead generation, reach a larger share of your target market, and scale.

Average salary for an SDR

The average base salary for a sales development representative in the United States is $48,469, according to PayScale.

SDRs can also earn bonuses of up to $25,000 and commissions of up to $26,000.

2. Office employee

An inside sales representative sells products and services through remote access rather than face-to-face.

Inside selling, also called virtual selling or distance selling, uses emails, phone calls and video calls to stimulate prospects and make a sale.

Indoor salespeople generate income with just a reliable internet connection and a way to make calls with solid sound. They can sell to anyone, wherever they are.

An inside pageSellusually works on a predictable schedule. They can split their weekly or monthlysales quotain the number of calls they need to make per day and remove distractions that don't help them reach that number.

Here are some of the common skills listed on internal sales rep job postings:

• The ability to pick up verbal and audible cues during sales calls

• Clear communication with others and the ability to build strong relationships

• The drive to consistently improve their product knowledge

• Task priority and time management

When should you hire an in-house salesperson?

Hiring an in-house salesperson is useful if your company has a remote or hybrid work structure and you want your sales team to contact potential customers and make sales from their home office.

It is also a good move for companies that want to increase their sales without wasting resources. Sellers don't have to travel or come to the office to sell, saving you time and money.

Average salary for an inside sales employee

The average base salary for an inside sales representative in the United States is $49,569, according to PayScale.

Inside sales representatives can also earn bonuses of up to $16,000 and commissions of up to $30,000.

3. External representative

An outside sales representative sells products and services through face-to-face meetings.

An outside salesperson, also called field salespeople, meets potential customers at trade shows, industry events or their offices.

An outside sales representative's schedule is less structured than that of inside sales reps. Their office is their base, but they spend most of their time outside. They determine their own schedule and adapt it to the preferences of their prospects.

Third-party sellers often have their own territory, such as a state like Seattle or New Jersey, or it can be more specific to a city, such as Chicago or Boston.

If your sales representatives cover multiple states or countries, it's important to consider the different laws and regulations, especially in industries like healthcare. For example, New York has laws that differ from those of Florida, and Singapore's laws are different from those of India.

The different laws will affect the sales process and the questions potential customers may have. Regardless of which job category a salesperson fits into, they should be aware of these differences.

Qualities to look for in an outside sales representative candidate include:

• The ability to pick up body language signals

• Comfortably determine your own schedule and work independently

• Organizational skills

• Willing to work with fewer leads

When Should You Hire an Outside Sales Representative?

Hiring outside salespeople is a good move for companies focused on larger deals. It is unlikely that many potential customers will spend large amounts of money on a product or service without first meeting someone within the company.

Average salary for a field employee

The average base salary for a third-party salesperson in the United States is $54,768, according to PayScale.

4. Account manager (AE)

An account manager (AE) is responsible for everythingsales cycle, from lead generation to closing the deal.

They also offer after-sales support to boost your salescustomer retentionand ensure customer satisfaction.

Account managers often work with salespeople, account managers and the customer service team. They build long-term relationships, encourage repeat purchases, grow their customer base and keep churn rates low.

A strong candidate for an account executive role:

• Understands all parts of the sales process

• Can build and maintain relationships

• Has in-depth knowledge of market needs and trends

• Keeps meticulous notes and details of the accounts they oversee

• Utilizes sales insight and reporting tools

When do you hire an account manager?

Account managers are essential for companies that want to go all out for customer loyalty and build customer relationships from the ground up.

Account managers are very involved in all aspects ofcustomer journey. They understand who their customers are, what they want and how to encourage them to purchase.

Average salary for an accounting officer

According to PayScale, the average base salary for an account manager in the United States is $63,030.

Account managers can also get bonuses of up to $45,000 and commissions of up to $56,000.

5. Account manager

An account manager focuses on building and maintaining long-term relationships with a company's customers. They oversee a specific set of assigned clients, reaching out to key stakeholders in those businesses and seeking out new onessales opportunities.

Account managers are the most important point of contact between their company and the customer. They become trusted advisors to customers, offering advice to help them get the most out of their purchase.

A candidate Account Manager must:

• An active listener

• Insured deliverysales presentations

• A professional dealer

• Ability to juggle multiple accounts at once

• Has knowledge of sales forecasts and reporting

• Can collaborate with the sales team

When do you hire an account manager?

If your company has a growing customer base, account managers will help you manage customer relationships and ensure better customer relationscustomer experience, increase customer lifetime value and reduce customer churn.

Average salary for an account manager

The average base salary for an account manager in the United States is $61,771, according to PayScale.

Account managers can also earn bonuses of up to $21,000 and commissions of up to $39,000.

6. Sales manager

A sales manager is responsible for leadershipsales teamto achieve his goals. They hire and train sales associates, create a strategic sales plan, and evaluate the team's sales performance.

Sales managers set sales goals based on business goals and objectives. They monitor performance and support team members when things fall behind.

They also motivate salespeople, boost morale, and build trust with salespeople to move the entire team forward.

Strong candidates for a sales manager role can:

• Recruit, mentor, motivate and influence a team of ambitious salespeople

• Combine effective goal setting skills with solid planning skills to achieve those goals

• Take advantage of their knowledgesales reportingand predictions

• Communicate effectively with colleagues

• Share valuable presentations

When should you hire a sales manager?

Any company with multiple salespeople can benefit from hiring a sales manager. It keeps everyone aligned and focused on the same goal and gives sellers someone to turn to if they have questions or concerns.

Average salary for a sales manager

According to PayScale, the average base salary for a sales manager in the United States is $70,258.

Sales managers can also get bonuses of up to $34,000 and commissions of up to $60,000.

7. Customer Success Manager (CSM)

INcustomer success manager(CSM) is the link between the company and its customers.

A CSM onboards customers post-purchase, ensures their experience is smooth, and builds long-term relationships to increase customer retention.

CSMs play an important role in helping sales, marketing, and product development teams understand customer needs and behavior. As a result, these teams can maximize their efforts and increase business profits.

A candidate with a great Customer Success Manager might have the following skills on their resume:

• Experience providing quality customer service and addressing customer issues

• Providing training and managing a team

• Communicates and collaborates with all departments of the company

• To use their technical skills to work on business objectives

When Should You Hire a Customer Success Manager?

If your company wants to reduce customer churn, hiring a customer success manager is a good place to start.

Their goals are to drive repeat purchases, track the status of customer accounts, train customers, and turn them into customer advocates.

Average salary for a customer success manager

According to PayScale, the average base salary for a customer success manager in the United States is $74,727.

Customer Success Managers can also earn bonuses up to $24,000 and commissions up to $32,000.

8. Sales engineer

INSales engineersells technical products to companies. They have unique product knowledge and specialize in complex, advanced solutions.

They help sales managers understand the technical aspects of the solution they are selling so they can explain it to customers and close the deal.

Sales engineers are also good at explaining advanced products and concepts in an easy-to-understand way. They give technical presentations and product demonstrations to potential customers to show how the product works and why it is the best solution for their needs.

Experience interviewing for a Sales Engineering candidate includes:

• A relevant technical diploma or a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, IT or applied sciences

• Problem solving ability

• Presentation skills

• The ability to communicate complex topics and solutions clearly and simply

• Collaboration skills

• Knowledge of the sales process, including potential bottlenecks and key activities that move prospects forward

When Should You Hire a Sales Engineer?

If your company sells technical products, you will benefit from hiring a sales engineer. They can pitch your product, give a demonstration and take care of any setup and onboarding for your customers.

Average salary for a sales engineer

The average base salary for a sales engineer is $77,686 in the United States, according to PayScale.

Sales engineers can also receive bonuses of up to $26,000 and commissions of up to $44,000.

9. Sales Operations Manager

A sales manager is responsible for the processes, tools and technologies used by the sales team. They reduce friction in daily sales activities, which helpssellersimprove efficiency and increase productivity.

Sales operations managers often simplify and streamline complex workflows with aCRM. By using this software, the sales team can better manage their sales.

For example, they can instantly see the number of deals in their workflow, the average deal size and value, how many deals the team wins, and how long it takes to close a deal.

A solid sales manager candidate will have:

• Experience using your favorite CRM tool, from optimizing processes to building dashboards and running reports

• The ability to asales strategyin processes, automations and systems for your sales team

• Communication and leadership skills

• Techniques for Teaching, Motivating, and Motivating Salespeople

When should you hire a sales manager?

If you want to increase productivity and streamline your sales process, hiring a sales manager can help. They will integrate useful tools, build a useful tech stack, and help salespeople manage their leads as efficiently as possible.

Average salary for a sales manager

The average base salary for a sales manager in the United States is $87,801, according to PayScale.

Sales Operations Managers can also earn bonuses of up to $20,000 and commissions of up to $30,000.

10. Regional Sales Manager

A regional sales manager oversees sales activities, activities and performance in a specific area. They know their region deeply and understand how different factors can influence demand and sales figures. They can adapt to patterns and trends and hire new salespeople as needed.

Regional sales managers also support sales managers and teams in their region.

They train and motivate the teams they supervise, work with them to achieve their sales goals and report on regional sales results.

Here are some qualities to look for in a regional sales manager candidate:

• A broad knowledge of the local target market and competitors in their area

• The ability to motivate, lead andsales of coachesleaders and representatives

• Confidence in creating sales reports and forecasts

• Presentation skills report

• Experience in building a clear sales strategy and achieving sales goals

When Should You Hire a Regional Sales Manager?

You should hire regional sales managers when your global reach becomes large enough to divide into territories.

For example, a real estate company might divide a single country into territories. A software company can divide its sales activities between EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and the United States.

Average salary for a regional sales manager

The average base salary for a regional sales manager in the United States is $87,501, according to PayScale.

Regional sales managers can also receive bonuses of up to $38,000 and commissions of up to $50,000.

11. Sales Director (Sales Director)

A sales director or director of sales is a high-level management role that oversees and directs sales teams. They train sales managers, set annual sales goals, and develop key sales strategies to achieve business goals.

The sales director has a bird's-eye view of where the company is now and where it should be. They work with the marketing team, sales managers and financial managers to align sales activities with the bigger picture.

Here are some of the skills and experience to look for in a sales director:

• Excellent sales record

• Proven track record of implementing changes and strategies that drive business growth

• The ability to develop streamlined sales processes to improve business efficiency

• Sales forecasting and reporting skills that support sales strategies

When should you hire a sales director?

It is the right time to hire a sales director if the company is growing rapidly. A Sales Director will keep this growth in line with the overall goals of the company.

Average salary for a sales director

The average base salary for a sales director is $101,345 in the United States, according to PayScale.

Sales directors can also receive bonuses of up to $50,000 and commissions of up to $68,000.

12. Vice President (VP) Sales

Vice President (VP) Sales is another senior management role. They set sales goals and objectives and work with the Director of Sales to create successful sales strategies.

The sales director has a varied role, with responsibilities that change depending on the size and structure of the company. Their responsibilities often include reporting to the board, analyzing current revenue figures to understand the company's trajectory, and planning the company's strategic direction.

A Sales Director candidate must possess:

• Several years of experience in sales management (C-level leadership a bonus)

• An extensive track record in setting and achieving an organization's sales goals

• Skills in communication, mentoring and relationship building

• A strong strategic mindset and creative thinking skills

When should you hire a sales director?

The best place to hire a sales director is when your business is gaining momentum with leads, sales and revenue growth. At this point, a sales director can keep the sales organization aligned with the market, the goals and the company's vision.

Average salary for a sales director

According to PayScale, the average base salary for a sales director in the United States is $152,023.

VPs of Sales can also earn bonuses up to $85,000 and commissions up to $99,000.

13. Chief sales officer (CSO)

A Chief Sales Officer (CSO) is responsible for leading and managing a company's sales function. They manage the company's sales director and oversee all company sales activities, making them the highest-ranking sales position in an organization.

The main focus of a CSO is on management, strategy and evaluation. They assess the effectiveness of sales, operations and customer support to ensure the company meets sales targets and achieves its business goals. Tasks may include analyzing sales channels, competitors, the market, and the company's sales initiatives.

Here are some of the skills to look for when hiring for a sales manager position:

• Deep analytical skills, including performance and competitive analysis

• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to move a group of diverse people with different skills in the same direction

• The ability to manage change as the business grows and scales

• Business acumen and deep understanding of the complexity of the market

When should you hire a sales manager?

If your business is growing and your sales managers need support, it may be time to add a sales manager. They oversee all sales activities and provide support to your sales managers so they can keep their salespeople on track to achieve your sales goals.

Average salary for a sales manager

The average base salary for a sales manager is $180,521 in the United States, according to PayScale.

Sales managers can also receive bonuses of up to €101,000 and commissions of up to €140,000.

14. Business Development Manager

A business development manager is responsible for identifying new business opportunities. They focus on generating more sales, improving profitability and helping your business grow.

A large part of the role involves strategic planning with the sales team. The Business Development Manager will use the sales strategy to inform their research and find the best areas for growth and opportunity.

Some of the qualities to look for in a business development manager include:

• Analytical skills to discover areas for improvement

• Effective research skills to identify new business opportunities

• Good reporting and forecasting skills

• Market analysis skills (to see where your company stands)

• Confident communication with colleagues and customers

When should you hire a business development manager?

If your business is doing well but you haven't seen significant growth in a while, consider hiring a business development manager. Their role is to identify opportunities to help your business grow.

Average salary for a business development manager

The average salary for a business development manager in the United States is $80,827, according to PayScale.

A business development manager can also receive bonuses of up to $32,000 and commissions of up to $42,000.

15. Sales consultant

A sales consultant is an experienced sales representative. They have a successful track record and in-depth knowledge of the market. You can hire them as a full-time team member or as a part-time freelance consultant.

Their responsibilities include finding quality leads, building customer relationships, pitching your product or service, and nurturing leads through the sales funnel.

Here are some skills to look for when hiring a sales consultant:

• Lead identification and qualification

• Industry knowledge

• Impressive communication

• Strong sales record

• Presentation and pitching of products

When should you hire a sales consultant?

Companies often hire a sales consultant when they need an expert. If your sales are declining or your target audience has changed, a sales consultant can help you adjust yourssales activityto increase your sales.

Average salary for a sales consultant

According to PayScale, the average salary for a sales consultant in the United States is $61,246.

A sales consultant can also earn bonuses of up to $41,000 and commissions of up to $73,000.

How do you know when to expand your sales team?

Let's look at some situations where ifentrepreneuror sales manager, you can expand your sales team to support the growth of your business.

You have a strong (and growing) sales record

Has your company experienced steady growth over the past year? If the answer is yes, you may want to consider increasing your chances of making a sale.

By expanding your sales team, you can scale your sales capabilities and continue to grow your strong sales record.

For example, if you hire a business development manager, you will find new ways to increase your sales and expand your business.

Hiring a sales manager can also be a good option at this time. When you have a leadership figure, you have someone who can create a sales strategy that drives growth. They can look at your pricing strategies or find partnerships you can create to grow your audience and sales.

Once this strategy is in place, you can break out of your existing rut and (hopefully) see more sales.

You are struggling to meet demand

If there are too many leads and prospects coming into your pipeline and not enough people to handle them, it's time to grow your sales team.

Getting more salespeople on board will help you manage all those leads without anyone slipping through the cracks. You can deliver a better customer experience and increase your ability to guide prospects from first contact to closing the deal.

An inbound sales representative can also be a good choice in this situation. Adding this role can improve your lead management without increasing your outbound costs too much. You'll pay a salary for your new inbound sales manager, but you won't have to pay if he/she has to travel somewhere to meet new prospects.

You are planning to launch a new product or service

Every time you launch a new product or service, you need to review your resources and capabilities. Take a look at who's on your sales team, what their roles are, and how they can support the new product coming to market.

In many cases, you will find that your company needs more salespeople to launch a new product.

For example, you might want an expert (such as a sales consultant) to guide the launch and ensure it is successful.

You may also consider hiring more sales development representatives to handle existing leads while other sales managers focus on launching and promoting the new product. By doing this, you ensure that your existing customers don't suffer while most of your salespeople are busy elsewhere.

Your company is expanding or moving to new areas

Another time when it's worth hiring more salespeople is when you want to expand to a new location or when you're moving a local business to another area.

For example, a real estate agent with a brokerage in California may want to set up a new brokerage in Texas, which will require new licenses and new representatives (or agents).

Likewise, a solar panel company in Oregon may want to start selling in Arizona. They may not need a new license, but local knowledge will certainly help.

By bringing new people on board, you can capitalize on local trends that only a sales representative in that location can truly understand.

Final thoughts

Hiring the right sales positions can make or break the success of your sales team.

By understanding what each type of sales role is, the responsibilities it entails, and how it fits into your business, you'll be much better equipped to hire the right people and attract the right candidates to your job.

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