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Technical sales representative

Also called field salesman, field saleswoman, field salesperson

Technical sales representatives act for a business to sell its merchandise while providing technical insight for customers.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects57 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree8 in 10 have a degree.Business and administration professionalsWill AI change it?SignificantlyLevel 5 of 6. AI could take on part of most tasks, but none fully.Technical and medical sales professionals (excluding ICT) · ILO

What you'd do

Technical and medical sales professionals (excluding ICT) · ILO
  • Compiling lists of prospective client businesses using directories and other sources
  • Acquiring and updating knowledge of employers‚Äô and competitors‚Äô goods and services, and market conditions
  • Visiting regular and prospective client businesses to establish and act on selling opportunities
  • Assessing clients' needs and resources and recommending appropriate goods or services
  • Providing input to product design where goods or services must be tailored to suit clients‚Äô needs
  • Developing reports and proposals as part of sales presentation to demonstrate benefits from use of goods or service
  • Estimating costs of installing and maintaining equipment or service
  • Monitoring customers‚Äô changing needs and competitor activity, and reporting these developments to sales management
  • Quoting and negotiating prices and credit terms, and preparing and administering sales contracts
  • Arranging delivery of goods, installation of equipment and the provision of services
  • Reporting to sales management on sales made and the marketability of goods and services
  • Consulting with clients after sale to ensure a satisfactory resolution of any problems and provide ongoing support
Contact customersKeep records on salesImplement sales strategiesDemonstrate motivation for salesImplement customer follow-up+ 19 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?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration professionals in the EU
6.65m9.73m13.35m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
2,909,000 new jobs 3,080,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration professionals57
All jobs29
Right now
7 of 27 countries report a shortage of technical and medical sales professionals (excluding ICT), 4 a surplus.
Technical and medical sales professionals (excluding ICT) · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Luxembourg), 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 professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in wholesale and retail sales is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 81%Vocational 11%General secondary 6%Basic schooling 2%
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?

Significantly

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

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

Average task score 0.50 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 12 tasks
Acquiring and updating knowledge of employers’ and competitors’ goods and services, and market conditions0.66
Compiling lists of prospective client businesses using directories and other sources0.65
Developing reports and proposals as part of sales presentation to demonstrate benefits from use of goods or service0.59
Reporting to sales management on sales made and the marketability of goods and services0.53
Arranging delivery of goods, installation of equipment and the provision of services0.51
Monitoring customers’ changing needs and competitor activity, and reporting these developments to sales management0.50
Quoting and negotiating prices and credit terms, and preparing and administering sales contracts0.48
Consulting with clients after sale to ensure a satisfactory resolution of any problems and provide ongoing support0.48
Assessing clients' needs and resources and recommending appropriate goods or services0.46
Providing input to product design where goods or services must be tailored to suit clients’ needs0.42
Visiting regular and prospective client businesses to establish and act on selling opportunities0.36
Estimating costs of installing and maintaining equipment or service0.35

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 technical and medical sales professionals (excluding ICT). Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).