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Career

Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

Sell goods or services door-to-door or on the street.

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $41,380 Median per year · $19.89/hr Most earn $32,010–$51,470

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Explain products or services and prices and demonstrate use of products.
  • Order or purchase supplies.
  • Explain products or services and prices and demonstrate use of products.
  • Answer questions about product features and benefits.
  • Circulate among potential customers or travel by foot, truck, automobile, or bicycle to deliver or sell merchandise or services.
  • Circulate among potential customers or travel by foot, truck, automobile, or bicycle to deliver or sell merchandise or services.

Job outlook

United States
10% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 4,800 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)94.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: None

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: NoneEntry-level

This is an entry-level job. Most people start right after high school or a diploma equivalent, with no prior work experience required, so the path is short.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school and build communication and people skills, which are the core of door-to-door and street sales.

  2. Door-to-Door Sales Worker

    Start right away

    Begin selling goods or services directly to customers, learning how to pitch products, handle questions, and keep track of sales.

Where it can lead

  1. Sales Representative of Services

    2-4 years of experience first

    Move into a role selling services to businesses or customers, usually with a steady client list, more planning, and a stronger record of sales results.

  2. Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing

    2-4 years of experience first

    Sell products to stores or companies in larger quantities, which often takes product knowledge and sometimes a certificate or apprenticeship in addition to sales experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English and speech or communication classesStrong speaking and writing skills help you explain products clearly and build trust with customers.
  • Join a debate, speech, or drama clubThese groups build confidence talking to strangers and thinking on your feet, which are key in sales.
  • Take a math classBasic math helps with pricing, making change, and tracking sales numbers.
  • Get a part-time job in a store or at a food counterWorking with the public teaches you customer service and how to handle busy, varied situations.
  • Volunteer for a school fundraiser or community eventSelling items or tickets for a cause gives you real practice asking people to buy.

In college

  • Take courses in marketing, business, or communicationsThese classes teach how customers make buying decisions and how to present products persuasively.
  • Work a customer-facing campus or retail jobJobs like cashier, barista, or campus bookstore staff build the daily selling and service habits this career needs.
  • Join a sales or marketing student organizationClubs often run sales challenges and workshops that give you practice and networking contacts.
  • Volunteer or intern in a sales-focused roleShort internships or volunteer sales work show employers you can meet goals and represent a company well.
  • Learn basic sales tools and record-keepingUsing spreadsheets or simple customer tracking software helps you manage leads and results, which can help you move up to sales representative roles.

Tips for getting started

  • Practice talking with new people. Ask friends or family to role-play sales pitches so you feel comfortable starting conversations.
  • Keep a simple record of your sales results or customer contacts. Employers like seeing proof that you can meet goals.
  • Look for part-time or weekend jobs in retail or customer service now. Even short-term experience helps you stand out for sales roles later.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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