Explore
B2B & inside sales
Sales Representative
Your number resets to zero every quarter.
Typical pay
$45k base to $200k+ on target
How you get in
None specific; SDR roles are the common entry
Outlook
Steady; strong for technical and medical sales
Sales reps find and close business for their company, usually against a quota with a base plus commission. B2B software and medical device sales pay the most; the pressure is proportional.
A day in the life
- 8:00aUpdate the CRM, plan the day's outreach
- 9:00aCold calls and prospecting emails
- 11:00aDiscovery call with a qualified lead
- 1:00pProduct demo for a prospect team
- 3:00pBuild a proposal and pricing
- 5:00pPipeline review with the sales manager
How to get in
SDR to account executive
Duration
1-3 years
Cost
$0
Credential
None — your numbers
- Start as a sales development rep booking meetings
- Hit quota consistently for 12-18 months
- Get promoted to account executive and carry a real number
- Move upmarket to enterprise for the highest earnings
Degree into a rotational program
Duration
4 years
Cost
$40,000-$150,000
Credential
Bachelor's, often in business
- Complete a bachelor's and intern in sales
- Join a corporate sales training or rotational program
- Get formal methodology training most reps never receive
- Enter with a structured path to account management
Pivot from industry expertise
Duration
6-18 months
Cost
$0
Credential
None — domain credibility
- Work in the field your product serves — nursing, construction, IT
- Move into technical sales for that industry
- Your credibility with buyers is the advantage
- Medical device and technical sales pay premiums for this
What people love
- · High income without a specific degree
- · Commission means real upside
- · Skills transfer to any industry
- · Clear, objective performance measure
What wears people down
- · Quota pressure never lets up
- · Rejection is the majority of the job
- · Income swings with the market and territory
- · Underperformance gets you cut quickly