Manufacturing and Wholesale Held About 2 Million Jobs In 2006
Employment
Manufacturing and Wholesale sales representatives held about 2 million jobs in 2006. About half of all salaried representatives worked in wholesale trade. Others were employed in manufacturing,retail trade,information,and construction.
In addition to those working directly for a firm,many sales representatives are self-employed manufacturers' agents. They often form small firms and work for a straight commission based on the value of their own sales. Usually, however, manufacturers' agents gain experience and recognition with a manufacturer or wholesaler before becoming self-employed.
Job Outlook
Employment of sales representatives,Manufacturing and Wholesale,is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through the year 2014, primarily because of continued growth in the variety and number of goods to be sold. Also, many job openings will result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
Job prospects for Manufacturing and Wholesale will be best for persons with the appropriate knowledge or technical expertise as well as the personal traits necessary for successful selling. Opportunities will be better for wholesale sales representatives than manufacturing sales representatives because manufacturers are expected to continue contracting out sales duties to independent agents rather than using in-house or direct selling personnel. Agents are paid only if they sell,a practice that reduces the overhead cost to their clients.
Those interested in this occupation should keep in mind that direct selling opportunities in manufacturing are likely to be best for products for which there is strong demand. Furthermore, jobs will be most plentiful in small Manufacturing and Wholesale firms because a growing number of these companies will rely on agents to market their products as a way to control their costs and expand their customer base.
Earnings
Compensation methods vary significantly by the type of firm and the product sold. Most employers use a combination of salary and commissions or salary plus bonus.
Median annual earnings of Manufacturing and Wholesale,sales representatives,technical and scientific products.were $64,440, including commissions, in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $45,630 and $91,090 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,410, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $121,850 a year. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of sales representatives,technical and scientific products, in May 2004 were as follows:
Computer systems design and related services $75,240
Wholesale electronic markets and agents $69,510
Drugs and druggists' sundries merchant wholesalers $66,210
Professional and commercial equipment and
supplies merchant wholesalers $67,700
Electrical and electronic goods merchant wholesalers $61,000
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