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Commercial sales representative

Also called sales executive, sales consultant, territory manager

Commercial sales representatives represent a company in selling and providing information on goods and services to businesses and organisations.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects25 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,600 (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree5 in 10 have a degree. 3 in 10 train through vocational routes.Business and administration associate professionalsWill AI change it?ModeratelyLevel 4 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Commercial sales representatives · ILO

What you'd do

Commercial sales representatives · ILO
  • Soliciting orders and selling goods to retail, industrial, wholesale and other establishments
  • Selling equipment, supplies and related services to business establishments or individuals
  • Obtaining and updating knowledge of market conditions and of employer‚Äôs and competitors‚Äô goods and services
  • Providing prospective customers with information about the characteristics and functions of the products and equipment for sale, and demonstrating its use or qualities
  • Quoting prices and credit terms, recording orders and arranging deliveries
  • Reporting customers‚Äô reactions and requirements to suppliers and manufacturers
  • Following up clients to ensure satisfaction with products purchased
Identify customer's needsHave computer literacyAdvise on merchandise featuresMaintain relationship with suppliersCarry out sales analysis+ 20 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration associate professionals in the EU
13.29m14.1m14.28m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
55,000 new jobs 3,460,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration associate professionals25
All jobs29
Right now
6 of 27 countries report a shortage of commercial sales representatives, 10 a surplus.
Commercial sales representatives · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,300 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in wholesale and retail sales is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 51%Vocational 31%General secondary 13%Basic schooling 6%
Field that teaches it
Wholesale and retail sales
Vocational route, EU
3 in 10 trainees in this field
Business and law graduates in a matching job
66% in the EU

1,314 institutions in the EU offer business and law bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Moderately

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.49 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Obtaining and updating knowledge of market conditions and of employer’s and competitors’ goods and services0.60
Following up clients to ensure satisfaction with products purchased0.56
Quoting prices and credit terms, recording orders and arranging deliveries0.54
Soliciting orders and selling goods to retail, industrial, wholesale and other establishments0.48
Providing prospective customers with information about the characteristics and functions of the products and equipment for sale, and demonstrating its use or qualities0.47
Selling equipment, supplies and related services to business establishments or individuals0.39
Reporting customers’ reactions and requirements to suppliers and manufacturers0.39

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for commercial sales representatives. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).