Sales Person Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Sales Persons In The US (2024)

Table of Contents
Sales Person gender statistics Sales Person gender ratio Sales Person gender pay gap Sales Person gender ratio over time Sales Person gender ratio by year Sales Person related jobs gender ratio Sales Person demographics by race Sales Person Race Sales Person race and ethnicity over time Sales Person race and ethnicity by year Sales Person wage gap by race Browse Most In Demand Jobs Average sales person age Sales Person age by race and gender Sales Person age breakdown Sales Person age breakdown Sales Person educational attainment Sales People by degree level Sales Person Jobs You Might Like Sales Person wage gap by degree level Sales Person employment statistics Company size where sales people work Sales Person jobs by employer size Sales Person jobs by company type Sales Person jobs by sector Sales Person jobs by industry Sales Person industry statistics Sales Person turnover and employment statistics Sales Person unemployment rate over time Sales Person unemployment rate by year Average sales person tenure Sales Person tenure statistics Sales Person LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs Similar sales person jobs LGBT demographics Foreign languages spoken by sales people Sales Person languages spoken Sales Person Jobs Sales Person location demographics Sales Person jobs by state Sales Person Demographics FAQs What percentage of Sales People are female? How many Sales Person are there in the US? What percentage of Sales People are black? What race are most Sales People? Are Sales Person jobs male - dominated? How old is the average Sales Person? Search for sales person jobs Related Jobs Demographics Sales Person Related Hirings Sales Person Related Jobs Sales Person Jobs By Location FAQs

Sales person demographics research summary. Zippia estimates sales person demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our sales person estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about sales people after extensive research and analysis:

  • There are over 2,308,424 sales people currently employed in the United States.
  • 29.5% of all sales people are women, while 70.5% are men.
  • The average sales person age is 40 years old.
  • The most common ethnicity of sales people is White (56.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (19.7%), Black or African American (10.7%) and Asian (7.3%).
  • In 2022, women earned 84% of what men earned.
  • 7% of all sales people are LGBT.
  • Sales people are 65% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.

On This Page

Sales Person demographics by:

Sales Person gender statistics

29.5% of sales people are women and 70.5% of sales people are men.

  • Male, 70.5%
  • Female, 29.5%

Sales Person gender ratio

GenderPercentages
Male70.5%
Female29.5%

Sales Person gender pay gap

Women earn 84¢ for every $1 earned by men

Sales Person Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Sales Persons In The US (1)Sales Person Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Sales Persons In The US (2)

Male Income

$48,547

Sales Person Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Sales Persons In The US (3)Sales Person Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Sales Persons In The US (4)

Female Income

$40,794

Sales Person gender ratio over time

This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in sales person positions over time. Currently, 29.5% of sales people are female.

Male

Female

100

%

80

%

60

%

40

%

20

%

%

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Sales Person gender ratio by year

YearMaleFemale
201067.72%32.28%
201167.43%32.57%
201268.06%31.94%
201368.07%31.93%
201467.24%32.76%
201568.03%31.97%
201668.56%31.44%
201768.83%31.17%
201869.30%30.70%
201968.53%31.47%
202069.76%30.24%
202170.45%29.55%

Sales Person related jobs gender ratio

We compared sales people with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, parts counterman and lumber associate have the biggest gender ratio gaps.

Job TitleMaleFemale
BRA Specialist6%94%
Clinique Consultant6%94%
Beauty Consultant6%94%
Sales Person70%30%
Cart Associate94%6%
Lumber Associate95%5%
Parts Counterman96%4%

Sales Person demographics by race

The most common ethnicity among sales people is White, which makes up 56.2% of all sales people. Comparatively, 19.7% of sales people are Hispanic or Latino and 10.7% of sales people are Black or African American.

  • White, 56.2%
  • Hispanic or Latino, 19.7%
  • Black or African American, 10.7%
  • Asian, 7.3%
  • Unknown, 5.5%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%

Sales Person Race

Sales Person RacePercentages
White56.2%
Hispanic or Latino19.7%
Black or African American10.7%
Asian7.3%
Unknown5.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%

Sales Person race and ethnicity over time

See how sales person racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.

  • White
  • Asian
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Black or African American

Sales Person race and ethnicity by year

YearWhiteBlack or African AmericanAsianHispanic or Latino
201064.42%11.08%6.03%15.31%
201162.65%12.10%6.20%16.00%
201262.36%11.61%6.35%16.45%
201361.36%12.12%6.41%16.80%
201461.32%11.73%6.84%16.90%
201560.78%11.77%6.61%17.54%
201660.58%11.44%6.60%17.84%
201760.10%11.00%7.03%18.16%
201860.21%10.76%6.71%18.67%
201960.18%10.72%6.78%18.55%
202057.67%10.71%7.15%18.94%
202156.19%10.68%7.31%19.74%

Sales Person wage gap by race

According to our data, white sales people have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown sales people have the lowest average salary at $46,373.

$52,000

$51,000

$50,000

$49,000

$48,000

$47,000

$46,000

Unknown

White

Black or African American

Asian

Hispanic or Latino

EthnicitySalary
Unknown$46,373
White$50,620
Black or African American$46,724
Asian$49,590
Hispanic or Latino$49,575

Average sales person age

See how the average age of sales people varies based on ethnicity and gender.

Male

Female

Sales Person age by race and gender

RaceMale AgeFemale Age
Black or African American32.538
Unknown3731.5
Asian4047
Hispanic or Latino3031
White4343
American Indian and Alaska Native36.539

Sales Person age breakdown

The average age of sales people is 40+ years years old, representing 49% of the sales person population.

40+ years

30-40 years

20-30 years


Sales Person age breakdown

Sales Person YearsPercentages
40+ years49%
30-40 years18%
20-30 years28%

Sales Person educational attainment

The most common degree for sales people is bachelor's degree, with 43% of sales people earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 27% and high school diploma degree at 17%.

  • Bachelor's, 43%
  • High School Diploma, 27%
  • Associate, 17%
  • Diploma, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 8%

Sales People by degree level

Sales Person DegreePercentages
Bachelor's43%
High School Diploma27%
Associate17%
Diploma5%
Other Degrees8%

Sales Person Jobs You Might Like

Sales Person wage gap by degree level

According to the data, sales people with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $62,259 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, sales people earn a median annual income of $60,499 compared to $44,280 for sales people with an Associate degree.

$66,000

$61,000

$56,000

$51,000

$46,000

$41,000

$36,000

Master's Degree

High School Diploma or Less

Bachelor's Degree

Some College/ Associate Degree

EducationSalary
Master's Degree$62,259
High School Diploma or Less$40,596
Bachelor's Degree$60,499
Some College/ Associate Degree$44,280

Sales Person employment statistics

Most sales people work for a private in the retail industry.

Company size where sales people work

Below, you can see the size of companies where sales people work.

< 50 employees

50 - 100 employees

100 - 500 employees

500 - 1,000 employees

1,000 - 10,000 employees

> 10,000

Sales Person jobs by employer size

Company SizePercentages
< 50 employees9%
50 - 100 employees9%
100 - 500 employees13%
500 - 1,000 employees6%
1,000 - 10,000 employees28%
> 10,000 employees35%

Sales Person jobs by company type

Employees with the sales person job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most sales people prefer to work at private companies over public companies.

Public

Private

Government

Sales Person jobs by sector

Company TypePercentages
Education0%
Public34%
Private65%
Government1%

Sales Person jobs by industry

The most common industries for sales people are retail, real estate and automotive.

Retail

Fortune 500

Real Estate

Automotive

Manufacturing

Show More

Sales Person turnover and employment statistics

Sales Person unemployment rate over time

The unemployment rate for sales people between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  • Unemployment rate

Sales Person unemployment rate by year

YearSales Person Unemployment Rate
201011.74%
201110.94%
20129.82%
20138.89%
20147.55%
20157.02%
20166.27%
20176.04%
20185.79%
20195.48%
20208.30%
20218.88%

Average sales person tenure

The average sales person stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 115,505 sales people resumes in Zippia's database.

Less than one year

1-2 years

3-4 years

5-7 years

8-10 years

11+ years

Sales Person tenure statistics

Number of yearsPercentages
Less than 1 year36%
1-2 years33%
3-4 years11%
5-7 years11%
8-10 years3%
11+ years5%

Sales Person LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs

Review the percent of sales people that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.

Job TitleLGBTJob Openings
Services Clerk3.66%149,892
Parts Driver3.76%146,082
Cafeteria Clerk5.05%67,247
Sales Person7.10%-

Similar sales person jobs LGBT demographics

ProfessionPercentages of LGBT Job Openings
Services Clerk3.66%149,892
Parts Driver3.76%146,082
Cafeteria Clerk5.05%67,247

Foreign languages spoken by sales people

The most common foreign language among sales people is Spanish at 55.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 8.9% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 4.3%.

  • Spanish, 55.2%
  • French, 8.9%
  • Chinese, 4.3%
  • Arabic, 3.9%
  • Mandarin, 3.7%
  • Other, 24.0%

Sales Person languages spoken

Foreign LanguagePercentages
Spanish55.2%
French8.9%
Chinese4.3%
Arabic3.9%
Mandarin3.7%
Other24.0%

Sales Person Jobs

Sales Person location demographics

Where do sales people earn the most?

Sales people earn the most in California, where the average sales person salary is $71,243. The map here shows where sales people earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.

Average Salary

Sales Person Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Sales Persons In The US (5)

Which city has the most Sales People?

By looking through more than 115,505 resumes, we found that the most popular places for sales people are New York, NY and Houston, TX.

Number of Sales People

Sales Person Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Sales Persons In The US (6)

Sales Person jobs by state

RankStateNumber of JobsAverage Salary
1California13,244$71,243
2Florida8,770$38,642
3Texas8,131$40,602
4Pennsylvania5,779$47,157
5New York5,069$70,328
6Ohio4,684$36,835
7Illinois4,446$44,514
8Georgia4,213$36,387
9North Carolina4,015$36,853
10Virginia3,833$40,396
11New Jersey3,813$62,714
12Massachusetts3,016$57,665
13Michigan3,006$38,541
14Tennessee2,621$37,652
15Indiana2,564$35,363
16Washington2,534$42,582
17Wisconsin2,496$40,646
18Maryland2,491$43,026
19Arizona2,461$45,619
20Colorado2,356$46,202
21Alabama2,182$36,932
22South Carolina2,108$36,863
23Missouri2,060$39,196
24Minnesota2,015$39,927
25Connecticut1,766$68,760
26Kentucky1,633$35,323
27Oregon1,442$54,897
28Louisiana1,399$37,948
29Iowa1,350$33,805
30Utah1,287$55,718
31Oklahoma1,067$38,619
32Kansas1,030$38,906
33Arkansas1,019$37,475
34Mississippi910$36,980
35New Hampshire801$51,212
36Nevada715$50,352
37West Virginia692$34,736
38Nebraska676$37,464
39Maine643$48,325
40Idaho568$48,912
41New Mexico557$42,568
42Delaware520$48,505
43Rhode Island467$55,298
44Montana418$32,026
45District of Columbia305$65,448
46Vermont303$50,004
47Hawaii290$49,538
48South Dakota283$33,691
49North Dakota269$32,094
50Alaska216$31,420
51Wyoming213$34,335

Where are sales people in high demand?

Sales people are in high demand in New York, NY. There are currently 24 job openings for sales people here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country sales people are in the most demand.

Jobs Openings

Sales Person Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Sales Persons In The US (7)

Sales Person Demographics FAQs

Search for sales person jobs

Updated July 21, 2023

Sales Person Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Sales Persons In The US (2024)

FAQs

What are the demographics of sales people? ›

In 2021, 70.6% of the Retail salespersons workforce were White, of which 48.4% were women and 51.6% men. Other races that concentrated a significant number of workers were Black (11.6%) and Two or More Races (6.69%).

How many people are in sales in the United States? ›

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 14.4 million people employed in sales and related occupations in the US as of May 2016.

What are the diversity statistics in sales? ›

29.5% of all sales people are women, while 70.5% are men. The average sales person age is 40 years old. The most common ethnicity of sales people is White (56.2%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (19.7%), Black or African American (10.7%) and Asian (7.3%). In 2022, women earned 84% of what men earned.

What percent of sales people fail? ›

However, a sobering statistic reveals that approximately 55% of salespeople fail to meet their sales objectives. This figure is a stark reminder of the challenges and pressures that sales professionals face daily.

What are demographics in sales? ›

Demographics describe who we are as individuals, for example: ethnicity, age/generation, gender, income, marital status, education, and homeownership.

What are the key demographics in statistics? ›

The common variables gathered in demographic research include age, sex, income level, race, employment, location, homeownership, and level of education. Demographical information makes certain generalizations about groups to identify customers.

How many people do direct selling in USA? ›

In 2021, the direct selling community in the United States peaked at over 50 million people. In 2022, however, there were less than 48 million Americans involved in direct selling. Specifically, the American direct selling community consisted of nearly seven million sellers and roughly 41 million buyers and customers.

Who is the number 1 sales person in the world? ›

Joe Girard has worked as a car salesperson his whole life. For the past 14 years Joe has worked for Chevrolet dealership and in that time he sold over 13,000 cars and averaged 6 vehicle sales per day. In his best month sold 174 cars. This secures him the title of the 'World's greatest salesperson' in the book.

What percentage do sales people make? ›

The average commission rate for sales sits somewhere between 20% and 30% of gross margins, but this depends on the sales structure. Some workers may earn their whole salary through 100% commission, while others earn 10% on top of a base salary.

How is statistics used in sales? ›

Researching sales strategies can help representatives, account managers and other sales professionals develop their selling strategies. Statistics can give individuals a better understand what strategies perform well and which methods can increase consumer interest.

What are examples of demographic diversity? ›

diversity, organizations, re- searchers, and policymakers have typically focused on demographic diversity, which is usually defined in terms of race, ethnicity, and gen- der and sometimes encompasses other demographic variables, including age, relig- ion, and sexual orientation.

What are the statistics on sales and marketing alignment? ›

Sales and marketing alignment statistics

90% of sales and marketing professionals say they are misaligned across strategy, process, content and culture. 60% agree that this misalignment between sales and marketing damages financial performance.

What is the B2B sales stats for 2024? ›

The B2B market is estimated to earn revenue of around 6 trillion dollars by 2024. Amidst the burgeoning trend of e-commerce businesses, B2B enterprises have not lagged. According to data, in 2023, B2B e-commerce sales surged to 1.77 trillion dollars, marking a notable 12% increase compared to the figures from 2021.

What percentage of people in the US work in sales? ›

7. Nearly 13% of all the jobs in the U.S. (1 in 8) are full time sales positions. [TWEET THIS] Takeaway: Today, salespeople are more important than ever and the sales profession is nothing like the negative stereotype of the past.

Why do salesmen fail? ›

One of the other reasons why salespeople fail is poor time management. Your salesperson should be able to balance his time between researching the quality of the leads, making calls, taking sales prospects down the sales pipeline, and even doing sales presentations with a sales pitch.

What are the demographics of sales leaders? ›

59.3% of all sales leaders are women, while 40.7% are men. The average sales leader age is 42 years old. The most common ethnicity of sales leaders is White (61.6%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (17.7%), Black or African American (8.4%) and Asian (6.9%). In 2022, women earned 86% of what men earned.

What type of people are best at sales? ›

18 qualities that make a good salesperson
  1. Active listening. Successful salespeople listen carefully to both their client's needs and the directives of managers and company leadership. ...
  2. Empathy. ...
  3. Competition. ...
  4. Confidence. ...
  5. Enthusiasm. ...
  6. Resilience. ...
  7. Organization. ...
  8. Honesty.
Feb 6, 2024

What is the demographic of direct sales? ›

In 2021, the United States was the world's leading direct selling market, generating 42.67 billion U.S. dollars in retail sales. 70% of direct sellers worldwide in 2021 were women, and 30% were men.

What are the typical customer demographics? ›

The most commonly used categories include age, gender, race/ethnicity, household income, education level, marital status, and geographical location.

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