Highest Earning Potenial Sales Job

I am young, and still learning. What do you think is the highest paying potential sales job?

I don't really know if I want to go to college.

If I do go to college and get a 4 year business degree, then I will try to get into Pharmaceutical or Medical Supply sales.

If not I don't know what I want. Real estate seems like something I would enjoy, however the average income is 30,000. Now I am not looking at being an average salesman, but I want to know what are the highest paying potential sales positions and if it requires a college degree.

Thanks

Sales does not necessarily require a degree. However, and to my understanding, some do; including the medical/pharmaceutical sales you mentioned.

It's tough to label the "highest paying sales gigs". I know people in the car biz (F&I) who make over 250K per year and people in real estate who break 7 figures.

Obviously there's a huge difference between profits and wages/commission.

To answer your question in a round about way... The most money is made when you are a business owner. Everything below equals being an employee.

The general philosophy behind sales is that it's the highest payed easy work and the lowest payed hard work.

There really isn't any "highest paying" sales job. There are industries that average more than others, but in many, there isn't a limit.

For my book, Creating a Million Dollar a Year Sales Income: Sales Success through Client Referrals, which is about the techniques and strategies the true million dollars a year income sales mega-stars use to create their huge volume of high quality referrals, I interviewed dozens of men and women thourghout the US and Canada who make a million dollars a year or more--some, much more.

These people came from all kinds of different industries--some business to consumer, others business to business. They came from high tech, finanical services, real estate, mortgage, and a few others that you'd expect.

But some didn't come from the anticipated industries. One gentleman sells mens suits and accessories for a major store (and, no, he's not in New York or LA). He makes well over a million dollars a year. Another sells furniture. Another vehicles.

Now, these men and women don't do business the way most salespeople do business--that's an obvious given. But every one of them started out just as every other salesperson--without a single sale.

And they differ in many respects: some are highly experienced, old pros, some are relatively new; some are young, some older; some pretty, some, well, not so pretty; some smart, some not so much so; some are the best in their field, some are just competent; some had great connections coming in, some had no connections at all; some are in major metropolitian areas, some not; some came from wealthy families, some were very poor growing up; some highly educated, some--one in particular, never graduated from high school.

But they all had things in common: they all spent (and still spend) a great deal of time and money on their personal and staff training (yes, at that level, they all have at least one staff member); almost all of them generate the majority of their business from referrals; they all have worked hard to find methods to maximize their time and effort; they all have a great deal of discipline and spend their time doing the three things that generate income--talking to prospects, making sales, servicing clients (they don't waste time on "busy work"); almost 2/3's have a personal sales coach; over 60% are not the owners of the company they work for, but all of them view themselves as the owners of their sales buisness; almost all market themselves, not the company they work for (even those that own the company).

So, there isn't a top income industry. But there are certainly things the top earners have in common.

I'll make sure to pick up your book Paul, thanks for the response.

Any others have a view on this topic?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmccord

There really isn't any "highest paying" sales job. There are industries that average more than others, but in many, there isn't a limit.

For my book, Creating a Million Dollar a Year Sales Income: Sales Success through Client Referrals, which is about the techniques and strategies the true million dollars a year income sales mega-stars use to create their huge volume of high quality referrals, I interviewed dozens of men and women thourghout the US and Canada who make a million dollars a year or more--some, much more.

These people came from all kinds of different industries--some business to consumer, others business to business. They came from high tech, finanical services, real estate, mortgage, and a few others that you'd expect.

But some didn't come from the anticipated industries. One gentleman sells mens suits and accessories for a major store (and, no, he's not in New York or LA). He makes well over a million dollars a year. Another sells furniture. Another vehicles.

Now, these men and women don't do business the way most salespeople do business--that's an obvious given. But every one of them started out just as every other salesperson--without a single sale.

And they differ in many respects: some are highly experienced, old pros, some are relatively new; some are young, some older; some pretty, some, well, not so pretty; some smart, some not so much so; some are the best in their field, some are just competent; some had great connections coming in, some had no connections at all; some are in major metropolitian areas, some not; some came from wealthy families, some were very poor growing up; some highly educated, some--one in particular, never graduated from high school.

But they all had things in common: they all spent (and still spend) a great deal of time and money on their personal and staff training (yes, at that level, they all have at least one staff member); almost all of them generate the majority of their business from referrals; they all have worked hard to find methods to maximize their time and effort; they all have a great deal of discipline and spend their time doing the three things that generate income--talking to prospects, making sales, servicing clients (they don't waste time on "busy work"); almost 2/3's have a personal sales coach; over 60% are not the owners of the company they work for, but all of them view themselves as the owners of their sales buisness; almost all market themselves, not the company they work for (even those that own the company).

So, there isn't a top income industry. But there are certainly things the top earners have in common.

Well said pmcord - I agree with this comment - Well done

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacificfame

I'll make sure to pick up your book Paul, thanks for the response.

Any others have a view on this topic?

I agree with that

Using my 20/20 hindsight I think I'd suggest a couple of things.

1) Get a college degree, perhaps in Finance. Maybe in art or music.

2) Go to work with a major financial services company, like Edward Jones early in your career.

Chuck

Very Good Sales Pro 1000

A skilled sales person can earn a lot of money in many different fields. Skilled salespeople are always in demand.

However, most people that take sales jobs fail, and most others struggle to earn a decent living. Those are the people who think that being a hard-worker who is likeable, persuasive, and has a burning desire to succeed is all you need to become a good salesperson.

We have trained over 450 Realtors. Most of them earn between $75k and $200k. That is about twice the mean average of the other 1.2 million licensed real estate agents in North America.

About 10 percent of our graduates earn over $500k; and about 3 percent earn $1 million and up.

One of the things that sets these Realtors apart from most other Realtors, is that they invest a considerable amount of their time and money in sales training.

Some other highly paid fields for skilled salespeople include:
Financial Services
High Tech Software
High Tech Hardware
Management Consulting
Capital Equipment

Hello pacific Frame - I personally believe that the industry you choose holds only half the bearing of what you are able or capable to earn.

IMO in sale you get out what you put in. I don't have work hours at my workplace all my employees come and go as they please. If they don't show up to work for a week - they may be at home working or having some time off.

In saying that I can see a clear define difference between someone who puts ina little more or shows up on Saturday/sunday to tidy up a few things, I have one particular worker who (which I am not saying do) is here before I am in the office - sets up appointments for every afternoon and goes out, then more then likely I am recieveing emails of the day at about 8:00pm at night when she is workgin from home.

She is making more then twice the second best sales person here.

So what I am trying to say is Good luck with whatever you try to do in sales but put in what you want to get out of it.

All the best with your choice.
William

	#1
pacificfame	Highest Earning Potenial Sales Job I am young, and still learning. What do you think is the highest paying potential sales job? I don't really know if I want to go to college. If I do go to college and get a 4 year business degree, then I will try to get into Pharmaceutical or Medical Supply sales. If not I don't know what I want. Real estate seems like something I would enjoy, however the average income is 30,000. Now I am not looking at being an average salesman, but I want to know what are the highest paying potential sales positions and if it requires a college degree. Thanks

	#2
bluenote	Sales does not necessarily require a degree. However, and to my understanding, some do; including the medical/pharmaceutical sales you mentioned. It's tough to label the "highest paying sales gigs". I know people in the car biz (F&I) who make over 250K per year and people in real estate who break 7 figures. Obviously there's a huge difference between profits and wages/commission. To answer your question in a round about way... The most money is made when you are a business owner. Everything below equals being an employee. The general philosophy behind sales is that it's the highest payed easy work and the lowest payed hard work.

	#3
pmccord	There really isn't any "highest paying" sales job. There are industries that average more than others, but in many, there isn't a limit. For my book, Creating a Million Dollar a Year Sales Income: Sales Success through Client Referrals, which is about the techniques and strategies the true million dollars a year income sales mega-stars use to create their huge volume of high quality referrals, I interviewed dozens of men and women thourghout the US and Canada who make a million dollars a year or more--some, much more. These people came from all kinds of different industries--some business to consumer, others business to business. They came from high tech, finanical services, real estate, mortgage, and a few others that you'd expect. But some didn't come from the anticipated industries. One gentleman sells mens suits and accessories for a major store (and, no, he's not in New York or LA). He makes well over a million dollars a year. Another sells furniture. Another vehicles. Now, these men and women don't do business the way most salespeople do business--that's an obvious given. But every one of them started out just as every other salesperson--without a single sale. And they differ in many respects: some are highly experienced, old pros, some are relatively new; some are young, some older; some pretty, some, well, not so pretty; some smart, some not so much so; some are the best in their field, some are just competent; some had great connections coming in, some had no connections at all; some are in major metropolitian areas, some not; some came from wealthy families, some were very poor growing up; some highly educated, some--one in particular, never graduated from high school. But they all had things in common: they all spent (and still spend) a great deal of time and money on their personal and staff training (yes, at that level, they all have at least one staff member); almost all of them generate the majority of their business from referrals; they all have worked hard to find methods to maximize their time and effort; they all have a great deal of discipline and spend their time doing the three things that generate income--talking to prospects, making sales, servicing clients (they don't waste time on "busy work"); almost 2/3's have a personal sales coach; over 60% are not the owners of the company they work for, but all of them view themselves as the owners of their sales buisness; almost all market themselves, not the company they work for (even those that own the company). So, there isn't a top income industry. But there are certainly things the top earners have in common. __________________ Paul McCord Best-selling author, Speaker, Sales Trainer, Management Consultant Power Selling

	#7
Sales Pro 1000	Using my 20/20 hindsight I think I'd suggest a couple of things. 1) Get a college degree, perhaps in Finance. Maybe in art or music. 2) Go to work with a major financial services company, like Edward Jones early in your career. Chuck

	#9
JacquesWerth	A skilled sales person can earn a lot of money in many different fields. Skilled salespeople are always in demand. However, most people that take sales jobs fail, and most others struggle to earn a decent living. Those are the people who think that being a hard-worker who is likeable, persuasive, and has a burning desire to succeed is all you need to become a good salesperson. We have trained over 450 Realtors. Most of them earn between $75k and $200k. That is about twice the mean average of the other 1.2 million licensed real estate agents in North America. About 10 percent of our graduates earn over $500k; and about 3 percent earn $1 million and up. One of the things that sets these Realtors apart from most other Realtors, is that they invest a considerable amount of their time and money in sales training. Some other highly paid fields for skilled salespeople include: Financial Services High Tech Software High Tech Hardware Management Consulting Capital Equipment

	#10
dodobird	Individuality Hello pacific Frame - I personally believe that the industry you choose holds only half the bearing of what you are able or capable to earn. IMO in sale you get out what you put in. I don't have work hours at my workplace all my employees come and go as they please. If they don't show up to work for a week - they may be at home working or having some time off. In saying that I can see a clear define difference between someone who puts ina little more or shows up on Saturday/sunday to tidy up a few things, I have one particular worker who (which I am not saying do) is here before I am in the office - sets up appointments for every afternoon and goes out, then more then likely I am recieveing emails of the day at about 8:00pm at night when she is workgin from home. She is making more then twice the second best sales person here. So what I am trying to say is Good luck with whatever you try to do in sales but put in what you want to get out of it. All the best with your choice. William __________________ William Shank When in doubt - Go flat out

Highest Earning Potenial Sales Job

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