Browse all of the tabs below for info about Sales Managers:
Sales Managers
Sales managers set goals, assign sales territories, set quotas and develop training programs for their salespersons. Sales managers work in virtually every industry. Those in sales management evaluate sales statistics to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and to learn about customer's preferences. A sales manager strives to maximize profits.
In large companies that have multiple products a sales manager often manages regional and local sales managers and their staffs. Those in sales management positions also offer strategies and techniques to sales representatives in order to improve their sales performance.
Often, small companies have just one sales manager, however some large companies have managers to oversee each level of the sales operation. A large company might have regional sales managers, general sales managers and home office and overseas sales managers. Some of the job titles are director of sales, regional sales manager, vice president of sales, district sales manager and sales and marketing vice president.
Responsibilities
Job Characteristics
Sales managers should have good motivational, organizing and interpersonal skills. They should also be effective leaders and be able to persuasively communicate with others orally and in writing. Those in sales management often work more than a forty hour week. Typically their work is based on a set number of projects and not a set number of working hours.
Employment Outlook
Employment for sales managers is expected to increase by 10% from 2006 to 2016. Those with a college degree, a high level of creativity, excellent communication skills and related experience should have the best job opportunities. Salaries vary substantially, however, the median annual earnings in 2008 for sales managers was $97,260.
The size of their sales territory is an important factor in determining their salary. Many managers achieve bonuses equal to 10 percent or more of their salary and some are given stock options. Regarding the popular industries, the industry with the highest median annual earnings for sales managers is professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers.
Experienced, successful sales representatives that have good leadership abilities have opportunities to advance into a sales manager position. Some sales managers began as sales representatives or started out in advertising, marketing or product management. In addition, some sales managers become top executives.
Education, Certification, and Licensing
Some employers prefer candidates that hold a bachelor's or master's degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing. In highly technical industries such as electronics and computer manufacturing, employers typically seek candidates that have a business and a technical degree.
Helpful college courses include, management, economics, business law, statistics, mathematics, finance and accounting. Computer classes are also helpful. In addition, an internship while the candidate is attending school can be highly beneficial.
In partnership with colleges and universities, a number of marketing and related associations sponsor local or national management training programs. The courses provided include sales management evaluation, brand and product management, international marketing, interactive marketing, telemarketing and direct sales, promotion and market research.
Resources
Major Employers
The major job providing sectors are wholesale trade, retail trade, finance and insurance, and manufacturing.
Schools for Sales Managers are listed in the column to the left.
The Top Cities tab shows employment statistics for Sales Managers by major metro area.
The Top Industries tab shows which industries have the most jobs for Sales Managers, along with salary data by industry.
The Find Schools tab lets you search for schools by field of study, degree level, and location.
These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).
Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.
| School | Locations | Degrees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIU Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| Albertus Magnus College | CT | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| American InterContinental University | FL, GA, TX | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| Anthem Career College | TN | Associate | |
| Anthem College | AZ | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Argosy University | AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IL, MN, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA | Bachelor, Doctorate, Master | |
| Argosy University Online | Online | Bachelor, Doctorate, Master | |
| Averett University | VA | Bachelor, Master | |
| Baker College Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor, Doctorate, Master | |
| Bauder College | GA | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Berkeley College | NJ, NY | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Berkeley College Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Briarcliffe College | NY | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Broadview University | UT | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Brookline College | Online | Bachelor | |
| Brown College | MN | Bachelor | |
| Brown Mackie College | AL, AZ, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, MO, NM, OH, OK, SC, TX | Associate, Bachelor | |
| California College San Diego | CA | Bachelor, Master | |
| Central Pennsylvania College | PA | Bachelor | |
| Charter College | AK, CA, WA | Associate, Bachelor | |
| CollegeAmerica | AZ, CO, WY | Bachelor | |
| Colorado Technical University | CO, MO, SD | Associate, Bachelor, Doctorate, Master | |
| Colorado Technical University Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor, Doctorate, Master | |
| Computer Career Center | NM, TX | Associate, Diploma | |
| DeVry Institute of Technology | AB | Bachelor | |
| DeVry University | AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| DeVry University Online | Online | Bachelor, Master | |
| DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management | AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, MD, MN, MO, NC, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI | Graduate Certificate, Master | |
| DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management Online | Online | Graduate Certificate, Master | |
| ECPI Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor, Diploma | |
| ECPI University | NC, SC, VA | Associate, Bachelor, Diploma | |
| Everest College | AZ, CA, CO, MO, NV, TX, UT | Associate, Bachelor, Diploma | |
| Everest Institute | FL, NY, PA | Associate, Diploma | |
| Everest University | FL | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Everest University Online | Online | Master | |
| Fortis College | FL, OH | Associate | |
| Golden Gate University | CA | Bachelor | |
| Golden Gate University Online | Online | Bachelor | |
| Grand Canyon University | Online | Master | |
| Hallmark College | TX | Bachelor | |
| Harrison College | IN, OH | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Heald College | CA, HI, OR | Associate | |
| Herzing College | MB, ON, QC | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Herzing University Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Hesser College | NH | Associate, Bachelor | |
| ITT Technical Institute | CA, FL, ID, IN, MI, MO, NV, OH, TN, VA, WI | Associate, Bachelor, Diploma, Master | |
| Ivy Bridge College of Tiffin University Online | Online | Associate | |
| Jones International University | Online | Master | |
| Kaplan Career Institute | PA | Associate | |
| Kaplan College KHE | OH | Associate | |
| Kaplan University KHE | IA, MD, ME, NE | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| Kaplan University Online | Online | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| Keiser University Campus | FL | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| Keiser University eCampus Online | Online | Bachelor, Master | |
| Lincoln College of Technology | FL, KY, OH | Associate, Bachelor, Coursework | |
| Minnesota School of Business | MN | Associate, Bachelor, Diploma, Master | |
| Morrison University | NV | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| National American University Campus | CO, KS, MN, MO, NM, SD, TX | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| National College | IN, KY, OH, TN, VA, WV | Associate, Bachelor, Diploma | |
| Northwestern College | IL | Associate | |
| Norwich University | Online | Master | |
| Olivet Nazarene University Graduate and Continuing Studies | IL | Bachelor, Master | |
| Pioneer Pacific College | OR | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Pittsburgh Technical Institute | PA | Associate | |
| Rasmussen College | FL, IL, MN, ND, WI | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Rutgers Business School | NJ | Master | |
| Sanford Brown College | IL, MI, MO, VA, WI | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Sanford Brown Institute | NY | Associate | |
| South University | Online | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| South University Campus | AL, FL, GA, SC | Associate, Bachelor, Master | |
| Southern Technical College | FL | Associate | |
| Southwest Florida College | FL | Associate, Bachelor | |
| Stevens Henager College | ID, UT | Associate, Bachelor, Certificate, Master | |
| Stratford Career Institute | Online | Diploma | |
| Strayer University | AL, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, MD, NC, NJ, OH, PA, SC, TN, UT, VA, WV | Associate, Bachelor, Certificate, Graduate Certificate, Master | |
| Sullivan University | KY | Associate, Bachelor, Diploma, Master | |
| The University of Liverpool | Online | Master | |
| UEI College | CA | Associate | |
| University of Phoenix | AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WY | Associate, Bachelor, Doctorate, Master | |
| University of Phoenix Online | Online | Bachelor, Master | |
| Virginia College Online | Online | Bachelor, Master | |
| Walden University | Online | Bachelor, Doctorate, Master | |
| Western Governor's University Online | Online | Bachelor | |
| Western International University | AZ | Bachelor, Master |
We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Sales Managers.
Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.
Related Careers