Technical Sales Specialists in Wholesale Trade

(NOC 6221)

in All Sales and Service

Technical sales specialists in wholesale trade sell a range of technical goods and services like scientific, agricultural, and industrial products, electricity, telecommunications services, and computer services, to governments and to commercial and industrial businesses in domestic and international localities. They work for companies that produce or provide technical goods and services like pharmaceutical companies, industrial equipment manufacturing companies, grain elevators, computer services firms, engineering firms and hydroelectric companies, or they may be self-employed technical sales specialists/agents who contract their services to other companies. Technical sales specialists who are supervisors are included in this group. Technical sales specialists usually specialize in a line of goods or services.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 350 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Sales and Service

  • Estimate 10325 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 17495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Due to the common requirement of technical knowledge about a specific product or service, vacancies in this occupation are often filled through internal promotions. Even so, openings are sometimes posted publicly, such as with telecommunications companies. Positions tend to be based in Halifax, but may target a specific area of the province for sales or be remote in nature, which creates some opportunities for those living in rural areas.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$24.32

Median

$37.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$18,617

Minimum

$59,119

Median

$133,282

Maximum

Compared to: All Sales and Service

Hourly Pay

$12.95

Minimum

$15.00

Median

$25.60

Maximum

Annual Pay

$2,949

Minimum

$16,629

Median

$45,086

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Technical sales specialists in wholesale trade sell a range of technical goods and services like scientific, agricultural, and industrial products, electricity, telecommunications services, and computer services, to governments and to commercial and industrial businesses in domestic and international localities. They work for companies that produce or provide technical goods and services like pharmaceutical companies, industrial equipment manufacturing companies, grain elevators, computer services firms, engineering firms and hydroelectric companies, or they may be self-employed technical sales specialists/agents who contract their services to other companies. Technical sales specialists who are supervisors are included in this group. Technical sales specialists usually specialize in a line of goods or services.

Job duties

Technical sales specialists:

  • Promote sales to existing clients.
  • Identify and solicit potential clients.
  • Assess clients' needs and resources and recommend the appropriate goods or services.
  • Provide input into product design where goods or services must be tailored to suit clients' needs.
  • Develop reports and proposals as part of sales presentation to illustrate benefits from use of good or service.
  • Estimate costs of installing and maintaining equipment or service.
  • Prepare and administer sales contracts.
  • Consult with clients after sale to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.
  • Troubleshoot technical problems related to equipment.
  • May train customers' staff in the operation and maintenance of equipment.
  • May conduct sales transactions through Internet-based electronic commerce.
  • May supervise the activities of other technical staff and sales specialists.

Sample job titles

  • computer equipment sales specialist
  • customer support representative
  • heavy equipment salesperson
  • medical equipment and supplies salesperson
  • pharmaceutical sales representative
  • sales broker
  • technical sales consultant
  • technical sales specialist
  • technical support specialist

Skills

  • This work requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You must be aware of the customer's needs and give careful attention to detail. You will be required to gain in-depth knowledge of the products you represent. Fluency in a specific foreign language, and/or foreign work or travel experience may be required for technical sales specialists seeking employment with companies that import or export technical goods or services.

Job requirements

  • A university degree or college diploma in a program related to the product or service is usually required.
  • Extensive company training programs for technical sales specialists may be provided by employers.

Other considerations

  • Earnings will often depend upon the type of product being sold and the volume of sales made. People in these jobs will have to keep abreast of technological changes in the products they sell. Experience in sales or in a technical occupation related to the product or service may be required. Progression to sales management positions is possible with additional training or experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

1,725

employed in 2016

91.0%

employed full-time

7.5%

self employed

27.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
73%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
46.2

median age

Compared to: All Sales and Service

102,605

employed in 2016

56.4%

employed full-time

5.8%

self employed

60.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
39.9%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
37

median age

Where will I likely work?

69.5%

Halifax

$64,403 median annual income
9.3%

North Shore

$55,659 median annual income
9.0%

Annapolis Valley

$57,660 median annual income
6.7%

Southern

$38,767 median annual income
5.5%

Cape Breton

$50,124 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

45.0%

Wholesale trade

12.6%

Manufacturing

11.0%

Professional, scientific and technical services

10.7%

Information and cultural industries

5.3%

Construction

What is the age of Employment?

31.0%

45-54

24.0%

35-44

17.0%

55-64

17.0%

25-34

6.0%

65+

6.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Sales and Service

30.0%

15-24

17.2%

45-54

17.2%

25-34

16.1%

55-64

13.8%

35-44

Top levels of education

35.9%

Bachelor

$73,817 median annual income
24.3%

High school

$42,968 median annual income
21.2%

College Diploma

$61,546 median annual income
7.2%

Trade Certification

$55,661 median annual income
4.1%

Less than high school

$56,315 median annual income

Compared to: All Sales and Service

39.8%

High school

$15,705 median annual income
19.7%

Less than high school

$9,866 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$20,644 median annual income
9.9%

Bachelor

$21,262 median annual income
8.0%

Trade Certification

$21,234 median annual income

Education & training

Business/Commerce

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and non-profit public and private institutions and agencies. They prepare students to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Computer Engineering - General

University Program

These programs prepare students to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the design, development and operational evaluation of computer hardware and software systems and related equipment and facilities; and the analysis of specific problems of computer applications to various tasks.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of electrical, electronics and communication engineers. They include courses in electrical circuitry, prototype development and testing; systems analysis and testing, systems maintenance, instrument calibration, and report preparation.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Information Technology

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the design of technological information systems, including computing systems, as solutions to business and research data and communications support needs. They include courses in the principles of computer hardware and software components, algorithms, databases, telecommunications, user tactics, application testing, and human interface design.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Selling Skills and Sales Operations

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to possess the skills associated with direct promotion of products and services to potential customers and to function as independent sales representatives and managers. They include courses in consumer psychology, image projection, public speaking and interpersonal communications, sales organization and operations, customer relations, professional standards and ethics, and applicable technical skills.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations - Other

College, Trades, or University Program

This includes any program not listed elsewhere that relates to Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Canadian Professional Sales Association
Toronto, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.