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Boston Career Explorer

Sales and Related

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products

Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.

Also called: Inside Sales Representative, Marketing Representative, Sales Representative, Energy Consultant, Sales Associate, Sales Consultant

Median pay in Greater Boston
$122,550
$58.92/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
8,670
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−2.1%
860 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$61,560$80,690$122,550$159,720$199,570

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Negotiate prices or terms of sales or service agreements.
  • Prepare and submit sales contracts for orders.
  • Visit establishments to evaluate needs or to promote product or service sales.
  • Maintain customer records, using automated systems.
  • Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, or credit terms.
  • Quote prices, credit terms, or other bid specifications.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure77 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 69
  • Language-model AIOE 73
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 89

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

This job has higher AI exposure, and observed AI use is substantial. Federal projections note that AI may let reps focus more on direct selling. AI tools can help with contracts, price details, and customer records. Negotiating, visiting customers, and applying technical knowledge still rely on people.

Likely to change

  • Preparing sales contracts and order paperwork
  • Updating customer records and answering routine questions

Still relies on people

  • Negotiating prices and terms with buyers
  • Visiting customers and judging their needs

What federal projections say

“Productivity change - share decreases as generative artificial intelligence (AI) is integrated into the sales process allowing sales representatives to focus on direct sales activity.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Industrial Production Managers

    Your product knowledge and experience with manufacturers carry over to running production. Pay is about $153,210 in Boston, and a bachelor's degree is typical.

    Pay difference
    +$30,660 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +2.3%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • General and Operations Managers

    Understanding pricing, sales, and customers carries over to managing a business or department. Pay is about $133,800 in Boston, with 3.8% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$11,250 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +3.8%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Architectural and Engineering Managers

    Technical knowledge and talking with engineering customers carry over to coordinating technical projects. Pay is about $205,130 in Boston, though projected growth is only 0.1%.

    Pay difference
    +$82,580 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +0.1%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

1 program near Boston

Related occupations

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