• March 22, 2018

7 Sales Jobs Where You Can Make a Small Fortune Right Now

Few people go into sales without the desire to make a lot of money. But even though sales comprises upwards of 15% of the entire U.S. workforce, not all sales jobs are created equal. If you want to do well working in sales, the job you choose is just as important as your skill and work ethic.

(You can also make more money by using Spiro’s sales automation CRM)

One of the best things you can do for yourself when picking a sales job/industry is to do some research to understand the current market and potential upside in each of the positions you’re looking at. There are plenty of resources online that can give you a window into industries, and even specific companies so that you can understand what you’re getting yourself into.

But at a high-level, there are sales positions where you’re likely to be very well compensated in today’s market. Here are seven of them:

1. Software sales jobs

While this is a very broad category, going into software sales is a smart move. Not only because you can make a lot of money at the right company through base, commissions, and stock options, but because you’ll be setting yourself up with excellent job security for the next several decades. “Software is eating the world,” as famous investor Marc Andreessen likes to say, and you really can’t lose by getting your foot in the door.

2. Consulting sales jobs

You can make a lot of money selling consulting services to companies. This position, however, does have some barriers to entry, as consulting firms tend to hire high-achieving MBA graduates and other outstanding students. That being said, there are lots of ways to achieve what you want in the world of business, and people who want it bad enough can always figure out a way to get through the door.

3. Financial services sales jobs

Financial services is a broad term, and can involve both B2C and B2B sales, and cover everything from banking services, to investments, and insurance. Most of these positions require licensing exams, and salespeople usually don’t make a fortune right off the bat, but those who stick with it and build up a client base can make lots of money from recurring business and residuals, making this a field with a lot of earning potential.

4. Consumer packaged goods sales jobs

Consumer packaged goods (CPG) salespeople sell products to retailers, grocery stores, and small businesses. This job usually involves substantial travel, prospecting, and account management, but tends to offer great compensation, and good job stability if you get in with the right company.

5. Manufacturing sales jobs

While manufacturing is commonly seen as an industry in decline, there seems to be no shortage of jobs representing manufacturers out there, whether they companies are based overseas or not. Manufacturer sales reps sell their employer’s products directly to other companies, retailers, or wholesalers. This job tends to involve a lot of travel and trade-show attendance, but can be a very lucrative position with the right company.

6. Medical device sales jobs

Medical device sales can be a fantastic and highly-profitable sales job. One of the best things about being in this industry is the tremendous growth and projected growth that it’s experienced, the result of increasing advances in technology that show no signs of slowing down. Sales reps typically sell to private practices or to large hospitals. A medical device sales position typically requires at least a bachelors degree.

7. AI-sales jobs

Artificial intelligence may seem like it’s still in its infancy, and to some degree, it is. But it’s already disrupting numerous industries, and helping people work more efficiently. There are AI segments springing up in nearly every industry as entrepreneurs and inventors look to bring the technology of the future to the market. Spiro, the AI-powered CRM, uses AI to help salespeople close more deals, so we know just how game-changing artificial intelligence can be. (If you are looking for a job in AI-CRM sales, check out our current job postings.)