Sales and Account Representatives in Wholesale Trade (non-technical)

(NOC 6411)

in All Sales and Service

Sales representatives in wholesale trade (non-technical) sell non-technical goods and services to retail, wholesale, commercial, industrial, professional, and other clients domestically and internationally. They work for businesses that produce or provide goods and services like petroleum companies, food, beverage and tobacco producers, clothing manufacturers, motor vehicles and parts manufacturers, hotels, business services firms, and transportation companies. Sales representatives in wholesale trade who are supervisors are also included in this group along with auctioneers.

Job Outlook

Good

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 930 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Low 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.

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$24.00

Median

$35.38

Maximum

Annual Pay

$10,362

Minimum

$46,154

Median

$96,045

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

Sales representatives in wholesale trade (non-technical) sell non-technical goods and services to retail, wholesale, commercial, industrial, professional, and other clients domestically and internationally. They work for businesses that produce or provide goods and services like petroleum companies, food, beverage and tobacco producers, clothing manufacturers, motor vehicles and parts manufacturers, hotels, business services firms, and transportation companies. Sales representatives in wholesale trade who are supervisors are also included in this group along with auctioneers.

Job duties

Sales representatives in wholesale trade:

  • Promote sales to existing clients.
  • Identify and solicit potential clients.
  • Present on the benefits and uses of goods or services for clients.
  • Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates.
  • Prepare or oversee preparation of sales or other contracts.
  • Consult with clients after sale or signed contracts to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support.
  • Review and adapt to information about product innovations, competitors, and market conditions.
  • Represent companies that export and import products or services to and from foreign countries.
  • May conduct sales transactions through Internet-based electronic commerce.
  • May supervise the activities of other sales representatives.

Sample job titles

  • advertising agent
  • commercial agent
  • commercial salesperson
  • computer services sales representative
  • exporter
  • importer
  • sales agent
  • wholesale trade representative

Skills

  • This work requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You must be aware of customers' needs and give careful attention to detail. Strong marketing skills, as well as computer proficiency, are important for this group.

Job requirements

  • High school is required.
  • A university degree or completion of a college or other program may be required.
  • Fluency in a foreign language and/or foreign country work or travel experience may be required for sales representatives seeking employment with companies that import or export goods or services.
  • Voluntary certification is available from the Canadian Professional Sales Association.

Other considerations

  • Earnings will often depend upon the type of product being sold and the volume of sales made. People in these jobs should be prepared to keep up with changes in product lines and sales methods. Experience in sales or in a job related to the product or service is usually required. Supervisors and senior sales representatives require experience. Progression to sales management positions is possible with additional training or experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

2,480

employed in 2016

86.3%

employed full-time

10.1%

self employed

34.3%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
65.7%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
47.8

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?

63.6%

Halifax

$50,759 median annual income
12.5%

North Shore

$38,845 median annual income
11.9%

Annapolis Valley

$43,179 median annual income
6.2%

Cape Breton

$31,067 median annual income
5.8%

Southern

$37,615 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

43.3%

Wholesale trade

14.9%

Manufacturing

9.2%

Retail trade

8.3%

Professional, scientific and technical services

8.0%

Information and cultural industries

What is the age of Employment?

24.0%

45-54

23.0%

35-44

22.0%

55-64

16.0%

25-34

9.0%

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

32.1%

High school

$43,556 median annual income
23.0%

College Diploma

$45,149 median annual income
23.0%

Bachelor

$60,370 median annual income
8.3%

Trade Certification

$46,566 median annual income
8.1%

Less than high school

$31,548 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

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Hospitality Administration/Management

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to serve as general managers and directors of hospitality operations on a system-wide basis, including both travel arrangements and promotion and the provision of traveller facilities. These include courses in principles of operations in the travel and tourism, hotel and lodging facilities, food services, and recreation facilities industries, hospitality marketing strategies, hospitality planning, management and coordination of franchise and unit operations, business management, accounting and financial management, hospitality transportation and logistics, and hospitality industry policies and regulations.

Institutions providing this program

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

International Business

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to manage international businesses and/or business operations. They include courses in the principles and processes of export sales, trade controls, foreign operations and related problems, monetary issues, international business policy, and applications to doing business in specific countries and markets.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Marketing/Marketing Management

College or University Program

These programs prepare students to undertake and manage the process of developing consumer audiences and moving products from producers to consumers. They include courses in buyer behaviour and dynamics, principles of marketing research, demand analysis, cost-volume and profit relationships, pricing theory, marketing campaign and strategic planning, market segments, advertising methods, sales operations and management, consumer relations, retailing, and applications to specific products and markets.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Nova Scotia Automobile Dealers Safety Association
Halifax, NS
Nova Scotia Automobile Dealers Association
Halifax, NS
Canadian Professional Sales Association
Toronto, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.