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Account Manager, Broker, Manufacturer’s Sales Representative, Sales Broker, Salesperson
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in persuading to promote sales to existing clients; in providing clients with presentations on the benefits and uses of goods and services; and in representing companies that export and import products or services to and from foreign countries
Interest in compiling information to identify and solicit potential clients
Interest in overseeing the preparation of sales and other contracts; may supervise the activities of other sales representatives
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
The duties of wholesale, nontechnical sales representatives, or more simply sales reps, vary depending on the types of goods and services they sell. Sales reps may work for:
In general, sales reps:
Wholesale, nontechnical sales representatives often work long or irregular hours. They may spend portions of each day travelling. They may be away from home for days at a time. They may have to carry bulky samples or heavy bundles of product catalogues. Sales reps may set up home offices and work remotely.
Wholesale, nontechnical sales representatives need:
They should enjoy meeting new people and selling goods or services. They should like identifying and approaching potential customers and building relationships. They should enjoy building agreement and overseeing the preparation of sales contracts.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 58 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Oct 27, 2021 and May 28, 2022.
Review these skills to learn:
| Provide customer service | 51 |
|---|---|
| Identify and solicit potential clients | 50 |
| Consult with clients after sale or signed contracts | 47 |
| Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties and delivery dates | 46 |
| Personal Suitability: Client focus | 46 |
| Conduct sales transactions | 45 |
| Prepare or oversee preparation of sales or other contracts | 44 |
| Advertise and/or promote products, sales or services | 44 |
| Provide clients with presentations on the benefits and uses of goods or services | 44 |
| Personal Suitability: Excellent oral communication | 43 |
The minimum education requirement for wholesale, nontechnical sales representatives (sales reps) is a high school diploma. However, many employers prefer to hire people with related experience or a business-related post-secondary diploma or degree. Basic computer skills and a valid driver’s license are definite assets.
Many large organizations have some form of training program for newly hired sales reps. They may train new employees by:
Sales reps must keep up with new products, services, and sales methods. They must stay current with technological and other changes affecting their customers’ companies.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Wholesale, nontechnical sales representatives (sales reps) work for companies such as:
Advancement for experienced sales reps may involve transfers to better sales territories. This may mean territories that are larger, have greater sales opportunities, or have larger annual expenditures.
Successful sales reps may stay in sales or advance to sales management positions. They may also move into marketing or become independent manufacturers’ agents (sell the products of more than one manufacturer).
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
In the 6411: Sales and account representatives - wholesale trade (non-technical) occupational group, 79.0% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 6411: Sales and account representatives - wholesale trade (non-technical) occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.5% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 388 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Earnings for wholesale, nontechnical sales representatives vary greatly. They are often directly related to job performance. Most employers offer a combination of salary plus commission or bonus. As a result, many individuals in this profession earn a commission-based income.
A commission is a percentage of the price of each article or service sold. Bonuses may be tied to individual performance, the performance of all sales reps in a group, or the company’s performance overall.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $38.81 | $22.97 | $19.67 |
| Overall | $16.50 | $46.65 | $29.35 | $26.28 |
| Top | $16.50 | $69.71 | $38.53 | $35.00 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Leasing | $77,570 |
|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | $71,044 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $69,845 |
| Construction | $64,704 |
| Manufacturing | $59,975 |
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $59,772 |
| Wholesale Trade | $58,883 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $57,004 |
| Other Services (Repair, Personal Services and Related) | $50,317 |
| Retail Trade | $49,474 |
| Agriculture | $37,681 |
Canadian Professional Sales Association website: www.cpsa.com
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2022. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
