Career Definition of Technology Sales
Technology sales professionals sell advanced devices such as computers to individuals and businesses. While many jobs exist in retail stores, some technology sales professionals travel to offices, workshops, and sales events such as conventions and expos.
| Education | Associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees available in business or information technology management |
| Job Skills | Solid communication skills, presentation abilities, technological understanding of products, ability to explain products in layman terms |
| Median Annual Salary (2021)* | $29,120 for retail sales workers |
| Job Outlook (2021-2031)* | 0% employment growth for retail sales workers |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Required Education
A variety of degrees are available for those interested in a career as a technology sales professional, including an Associate of Applied Science in Business Technology Management, a Bachelor of Science in Business Technology Management, a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Management, and a Master's in Business Technology Management. Students in these programs can expect to take classes in math, management, communication, accounting, marketing, and public speaking. Associate's degrees take two years to complete while bachelor's degrees take at least four.
Skills Required
Technology sales professionals must have excellent communication and presentation skills. In order to complete a sale, one has to explain the available products simply and thoroughly. Expertise in computers and other high tech devices is needed in order to establish credibility, demonstrate and explain features, and answer questions. Math skills as they relate to business deals are also helpful when technology sales professionals negotiate deals.
Economic and Professional Outlook
Wages for sales jobs vary greatly; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the median annual salary earned by retail sales workers was $29,120 in 2021, and the median annual wage for first-line supervisors of retail sales workers was $39,230. Non-traditional pay structures, such as commissions, are more common in sales positions than in many other fields. The BLS also reported a 0% growth for the employment of retail sales workers from 2021 through 2031.
Alternate Career Options
There are similar occupations related to sales, as well as technological and scientific products, that you might want to consider.
Sales Engineer
Sales engineers must have a deep understanding of the scientific processes used in the technology services and products they sell to businesses. They normally need a bachelor's degree in a field related to engineering but may secure positions with a degree in the sciences or with other technical training or experience. Average employment growth of 6% was forecast by the BLS for this occupation from 2021-2031, and an annual median wage of $103,710 was reported for 2021.
Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representative of Technical and Scientific Products
Sometimes called manufacturers' representatives or agents, these reps specialize in technical and scientific products and sell them to government agencies, organizations and businesses. According to the BLS, they could expect average increases of 4% in the number of positions available to them during the 2021-2031 decade. According to that same source, these reps were paid annual median earnings of $62,890 in 2021.
