Jobs That Pay Commission & Salary
There are a number of different career opportunities that provide pay through a combination of commission and salary. These jobs generally involve sales in one way or another, as this is typically how individuals are able to earn a commission. Below, we will look at five different careers that pay by commission and salary and learn what each job entails.
| Job Title | Median Salary (2020)* | Job Growth (2019-2029)* |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising Sales Agent | $54,940 | -6% |
| Sales Engineer | $108,830 | 6% |
| Sales Manager | $132,290 | 4% |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Service Sales Agent | $64,770 | 4% |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $89,330 | 4% |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Information About Jobs That Pay Commission & Salary
Advertising Sales Agent
As an advertising sales agent, you will be responsible for selling advertising space to businesses and individuals on behalf of your employer, which is often a magazine, newspaper, television company, or another type of public relations service. You may be in charge of securing new advertisers, which would entail explaining the pricing system, ad formats, and the details where and when the advertisement would be displayed. Advertising sales agents typically are paid by a salary in addition to a commission, which is based off the number of ads they are able to sell. To become an advertising sales agent, you may only need a high school diploma, though having a bachelor's degree is becoming a more common requirement in this field, in addition to on-the-job training.
Sales Engineer
Sales engineers are special types of sales agents that are responsible for selling highly-technical and scientific products to businesses. They must be very knowledgeable about how these products work and their purpose so that they can adequately explain their features to potential customers, often during technical presentations. A sales engineer earns a salary as well as a commission, which is based off of the total value of sales. To become a sales engineer, you will typically need a bachelor's degree in a field like engineering.
Sales Manager
A sales manager is responsible for coordinating all of the efforts and activities of an organization's or business's sales team. Some of their responsibilities may include preparing budgets, analyzing data and sales trends, creating pricing plans, and assigning sales agents to territories and setting sales goals for them. As a sales agent, you will earn a salary as well as a commission that is based off of the total number of products sold. To become a sales manager, you will need a bachelor's degree in addition to work experience as a sales representative.
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Service Sales Agent
Securities, commodities, and financial service sales agents work in the financial industry and are responsible for buying and selling financial products and services to clients. There are a number of different types of these agents, some of whom earn commission in addition to their salary. Brokers are one type of these agents, and they typically identify potential clients who may be interested in purchasing commodities and securities. To become a securities, commodities, and financial service sales agent, you will typically need a bachelor's degree to find an entry-level job, though having a master's degree is likely helpful to secure more advanced positions.
Personal Financial Advisor
As a personal financial advisor, you will work with individuals and couples who are interested in learning how to better manage their finances, set up accounts for retirement or a college savings fund, and invest wisely. In addition to these responsibilities, some financial advisors are also licensed to sell things like stocks and bonds directly to their clients. These financial professionals typically earn a salary and may also earn commission based off of the financial products that they are able to sell to their clients. To become a personal financial advisor, you will usually need at least a bachelor's degree, if not a master's degree, to find employment.
