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Boston Career Explorer

Sales and Related

Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products

Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

Also called: Account Representative, Customer Account Technician, Inside Salesperson, Outside Sales Representative, Route Sales Representative, Sales Consultant

Median pay in Greater Boston
$79,670
$38.31/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
14,010
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−1.3%
2,130 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
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
$46,810$62,820$79,670$107,840$157,530

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

What you’d do

  • Answer customers' questions about products, prices, availability, product uses, and credit terms.
  • Recommend products to customers, based on customers' needs and interests.
  • Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates.
  • Consult with clients after sales or contract signings to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.
  • Prepare sales contracts and order forms.
  • Provide customers with product samples and catalogs.

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 exposure80 of 100

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

  • AIOE 66
  • Language-model AIOE 76
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 98

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 price quotes, order forms, and contracts. Recommending products, building customer relationships, and solving problems after a sale still rely on people.

Likely to change

  • Estimating prices and delivery dates
  • Preparing contracts and order forms

Still relies on people

  • Recommending products based on customer needs
  • Supporting clients after the sale

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.

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Training near Boston

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

3 programs near Boston

Related occupations

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