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First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers. May perform duties such as budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.

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.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

High 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 $87,520 Median per year · $42.08/hr Most earn $50,320–$164,070

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Visit retailers and sales representatives to promote products and gather information.
  • Examine products purchased for resale or received for storage to determine product condition.
  • Provide staff with assistance in performing difficult or complicated duties.
  • Listen to and resolve customer complaints regarding services, products, or personnel.
  • Prepare sales and inventory reports for management and budget departments.
  • Formulate pricing policies on merchandise according to profitability requirements.

Job outlook

United States
1% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 21,700 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)30.4%
  • Credit intermediation and related activities7.8%
  • Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods6.5%
  • Electronics and appliance retailers6.4%
  • Merchant wholesalers, durable goods5.1%

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

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Career path

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

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

This is not usually an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree, work 4 to 6 years in a sales role, and then move into a supervisory position.

  1. Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field

    4 years

    You build core business skills like sales, accounting basics, and communication, which supervisors use every day.

  2. Sales Representative

    4-6 years

    You learn to sell to business customers, meet targets, and manage client relationships, and you show you can handle responsibility.

  3. First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers

    Career goal

    You coach and schedule a sales team, track budgets and results, and handle hiring and personnel tasks.

Where it can lead

  1. Sales Manager

    3-5 years of experience first

    You oversee several teams or a whole sales region, set larger sales goals, and plan strategy rather than only supervising daily work.

  2. Director of Sales

    5+ years of experience first

    You lead the entire sales function of a company, guide big budget and hiring decisions, and report to senior leadership.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and English classesStrong math helps with budgets and sales numbers, and strong writing helps you communicate clearly with customers and teams.
  • Join a business, marketing, or public speaking clubClub projects teach teamwork, presenting ideas, and working toward goals, which are core supervisor skills.
  • Get a part-time job in customer service or salesWorking with the public teaches you how to sell, solve problems, and stay calm when customers are unhappy.
  • Help run a school fundraiser or eventPlanning a budget, recruiting helpers, and reporting results gives you early practice managing people and money.
  • Practice speaking in front of groupsPresenting is a big part of leading a sales team, and comfort with it grows with practice.

In college

  • Major in business, marketing, or communicationsThese majors cover sales, management, and communication, which connect directly to supervising a sales team.
  • Pursue a sales or business development internshipHands-on experience shows employers you can sell and gives you a real reference for your first full-time sales job.
  • Take a campus job that involves leading or coordinating othersBeing a shift lead, tutor coordinator, or team captain builds the supervising skills this career needs.
  • Join a student organization and take a leadership roleServing as an officer lets you practice planning, budgeting, and motivating a group.
  • Take a short sales-skills or public speaking courseMany colleges offer these through career centers or continuing education, and they can strengthen your résumé for entry-level sales jobs.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for part-time jobs that involve selling or talking with customers, such as retail, food service, or a call center. Employers value proof that you can persuade people and handle pressure.
  • Ask a working sales supervisor for a 20-minute informational interview. Their advice on what they actually do day to day is often more useful than a job description.
  • Pay attention to your grades in math and writing. Both matter for budgets, sales reports, and clear emails to your team.

Related jobs that often lead here

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.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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