Do you find yourself in a state of internal conflict between the opportunity a sales career could afford you, and what your more rational side believes is prudent?
Your heart wonders, “Is sales a good career option for me?” while your brain says “Find something more stable!”.
I’ve been there.

The allure of the fast-paced world of selling, with its promises of high rewards, can be tempting.
But hey, so is jumping off a cliff for an adrenaline junkie!
Both are exhilarating concepts…and both are terrifying!
I bet you’re wondering what my journey was like, if it paid off for me, and if my answer to the question “Is sales a good career option” would be yes, after everything I have learned along the way.
Intriguing as these questions are, let’s slow down and get into the details here…
We’re not just skimming the surface. We’re diving deep into this dynamic field, talking about everything from transferable skills to what kind of paycheck you might expect.
By the end of this article, my goal is that you are a few steps closer to clarity regarding your career journey.
Is Sales a Good Career?
The realm of sales is vast, featuring a wide array of roles from entry-level positions to senior-level roles, small to big ticket prices, and management to executive-level leadership.
Almost every industry you can imagine needs salespeople, from the simplest products and services to the most complex.
If you are considering a career in sales, there are many attractive features that likely have drawn you in.
Probably the biggest appeal of a sales role is its high earning potential.

Successful sales professionals are some of the highest-paid employees in the business world, often earning more in annual income than executive leaders. Beyond commission income, salespeople are incentivized with rewards, trips, and other forms of recognition.
Beyond monetary gains though lies a hidden, crucial element that resonates with the best salespeople: the ongoing demand for personal growth and development.
In your journey through this dynamic profession, you’ll practice and develop so many valuable skills such as problem-solving and effective communication; qualities that successful salespeople must demonstrate to rise and stay at the top.
There’s also good news for job security seekers—the market demand for competent sales reps isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
In fact, if you are concerned about the impact AI is having in other areas of the job market, sales should be at the top of your list.
People buy from people, and the sales skills of rapport, relationship building, empathy, and personal connection are distinctly human and unlikely to be replaced by AI anytime soon.
A career in sales often entails meeting with people – a perfect setup if you enjoy working and interacting with others.

If being an adaptive problem solver appeals to you… if facing challenges head-on sounds invigorating rather than daunting… and if the idea of handling pressure, closing deals, and experiencing major highs excites you… then I encourage you to consider a career in sales.
The world needs more great salespeople, and I can teach you how to be one of the very best.
So, is sales a good career option for you?…
Is Sales a Good Career Option? 8 Considerations
Only you can answer this question “is sales a good career option for me?”, but this list should help you figure it out.
My recommendation is to give it a try to know for sure. If the idea of professional sales intrigues you, give it a shot!
1. Pros of a Career in Sales
A career in sales will be both challenging and rewarding, filled with ample opportunities for growth. It offers high earning potential and equips you with valuable and very transferable skills.
High Earning Potential
With the right skills, determination, and commitment, sales reps can earn tremendous commissions.
In many cases, the earning opportunities are uncapped, meaning there is no ceiling to how much you can earn.
The best salespeople I have worked with were earning 6 figures within a few years of breaking into sales.
The best salespeople on earth make mid to high 6 figures and even into 7 figures, mostly from commissions and performance-related bonuses.
The sky’s truly the limit when it comes to your earnings as a sales rep.

Of course, many elements factor into your earning potential, including the industry, potential customer market and demand, your products & services, the competitive landscape, and support from your employer.
Be mindful of choosing the right work environment to maximize your chances for success and the income you want.
Transferable Skills
Beyond just money though, being a sales professional provides invaluable experience that transcends beyond one’s career into all facets of life.
This profession requires people skills; understanding what others need and want becomes second nature for good salespeople because solving problems encompasses such a large part of their daily tasks.
You’ll become adept at reading situations quickly – knowing when someone is interested or disinterested through subtle cues. This will help you navigate many social situations outside your work.
Moreover, learning how to handle rejection gracefully (an unavoidable aspect of all sales jobs) strengthens resilience which aids us not only professionally but personally too.
The foundation you will develop in this career will not only pave the way for you to transition to other sales positions comfortably, but it will also help in your personal relationships and in the pursuit of personal goals.

Challenge and Excitement
One of my favorite elements of having a great sales job is the daily challenge to improve, and how that can be measured by the results I’m achieving.
Understanding how to improve one’s performance can be frustrating, but is ultimately extremely rewarding.
Another fun element of sales is the excitement that comes from steering deals through the sales process toward closing.
There aren’t many business highs more enjoyable than winning a deal, which makes all the rejection and failure that comes with a career in sales well worth it.
Ultimately, sales can be a very rewarding career for reasons beyond just money. Only you can answer the questions “is sales a good career option for me”, so keep reading…
2. Cons of a Career in Sales
Despite the many rewards, a career in sales is not without its challenges.
For starters, rejection can be an everyday occurrence for even the most successful salesperson. Resilience and the ability to rapidly overcome failure and get back to work is a skill that can only be learned through experience.
Sales roles also involve high pressure where meeting pre-defined revenue targets is paramount. This constant pressure can lead to stress if not managed effectively.
The base salary for entry-level positions might also be low compared to other job types. Most sales jobs are incentive-based, so your earnings move up based on performance.
The good news? If you bet on yourself, tough out the challenges, and trust that you will learn and grow as you deal with failure every day, you will improve rapidly.
Sales is so much more than a job, so if you put everything you have into it, the rewards will also exceed those of more traditional jobs.
Coping with Rejection
In sales work, hearing “no” more often than “yes” comes with the territory. While these rejections may feel personal initially, they are a great opportunity for reflection and growth.
The pain of rejection and failure can be a very effective teacher. Most people are happy to reflect on success, but few are willing to sit in failure and seek the lessons. Learn more about leveraging failure in this article.
Accepting failure as a part of the gig, and conditioning yourself to learn through those failures, turns them into tools on your path to success.
It’s critical to remind yourself that despite the negative outcome, you are gaining some form of benefit, which is a silver lining.
Navigating High-Pressure Situations
Having clear goals and accountability automatically creates pressure. Most people are turned off by the black-and-white measurement of success in sales – basically, you need to bill X amount by Y date.

I’ve found pressure to be, on the one hand, debilitating, and on the other, extremely helpful in driving me to achieve results I didn’t know I was capable of. Remember, diamonds are made under extreme pressure.
Having strategies like effective time management, positive self-talk, and self-care routines like exercise and good lifestyle habits, helps support you amidst demanding circumstances.
Earning Potential Concerns
While starting salaries could make you question this career path, data is very clear that successful sales workers earn significantly more than their base salary.
So, while the early days may be challenging, keep your eyes on the potential rewards.
3. Growth Opportunities in Sales
If you’re thinking about a career in sales, rest assured there’s more than just the entry-level or more common sales representative roles. This article outlines the best entry-level sales jobs if you’re just starting out.
With an abundance of growth opportunities available, you can move from entry-level positions to roles such as business development manager, senior account executive, customer account management, and even channel sales. Learn more about senior sales roles here.
The job market for sales professionals is always bustling with no signs of stopping. That’s good news if stability and potential for advancement are important factors for your career path.
The great thing about a career in sales is that it lets you solve problems while using your people skills daily.
As you get better at understanding customers’ needs and selling effectively, doors will open to new possibilities within your company.
It can also lead to managerial roles, like overseeing a small team and possibly leading to regional or even overall sales leadership.

Navigating Future Sales Roles
In today’s digital world, technology continues to impact the sales profession and associated selling behaviors.
Complex CRM systems, email campaigns, inbound marketing programs, and other trends will continue to evolve and impact how sellers behave and find success.
Organizations are developing more industry-specific products and services that can require a degree of industry or technical acumen to properly sell.
Ultimately, the mindset you must employ is to stay current on trends in sales, and be mindful of industries, both old and new, and where you should invest your efforts to find career success.
This is an exhilarating period to be in the sales industry, with a plethora of opportunities that weren’t available before.
So, if you’re a recent grad or thinking about making a career switch, keep these evolutions and machinations in mind.
4. Skills Required for a Successful Sales Career
Success in sales demands more than just an ability to pitch products or services. It requires a unique set of soft skills, excellent communication, and effective time management.
Communication
As you probably already know, strong communication is one of the most critical sales skills to hone. It’s not just about a sales pitch, communication is so much more than that.
A successful salesperson can clearly convey the value proposition of their product or service, creating compelling narratives that appeal to prospects’ needs and desires.
There are nuanced differences in communication skills, based on the modality, including phone, video-based, or in-person sales.
Beyond speaking persuasively and eloquently though, successful selling also hinges on listening.

Understanding pain points, challenges, requirements, concerns, and aspirations allows you to tailor your process and sales pitch accordingly – ensuring it resonates at the deepest possible level.
Make every effort to improve your communication skills, and watch your results skyrocket.
Time Management
The role of a sales rep/professional often involves juggling multiple responsibilities – from prospecting new leads to writing proposals and closing deals.
Time management is a critical skill; being able to prioritize tasks effectively and then adapt to new developments as they arise.
This skill becomes even more critical when working under pressure, as most do in this fast-paced field.
Organization
Proper organization can truly mean the difference between success and failure.
Every salesperson with some experience has lost a deal due to slow follow-up, or forgetting to follow through on a commitment.
Becoming more organized will drive more business, and provide peace of mind so you can focus on what you are working on moment by moment, confident that nothing is being overlooked or forgotten.
An added wrinkle is that your deals will all be at varying phases of the sales process, so becoming comfortable with pivoting to different types of work across your opportunities is something that takes practice to master, and is supported by solid organization.
For a master list of sales skills, go here.
5. Salary and Compensation
A career in sales is not an easy road, but the opportunity for exceptional compensation is a good reason to take on the challenge!
Unlike most other jobs, the earnings potential for a salesperson isn’t capped at a salary. The opportunity to make good and even great money is definitely there.
The challenge for new career seekers is to get through the difficult early years, where income is lower and lessons are harder, to break through to the upper ranks.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports over 13 million people with some type of sales job with an average annual income of slightly over $50,000.
The top 10% (approximately) of salespeople across industries make $100,000/year or more.
So the reality is, that there are dues to be paid and much to be learned, but over time with grit and determination, there are incredible opportunities.
I’ve spent the majority of my career in tech sales, and the best in this industry all earn well over $250,000/year.
Take a closer look at the report, and you’ll see certain industries that are highly lucrative, including technology, energy, finance, and sciences.

The unique aspect of remuneration in sales is that it typically consists of two components: fixed pay (base salary) and variable pay (commissions).
This dual structure provides a stable income while also rewarding success on deals closed and targets achieved.
Your commission as a part of your overall earnings can vary widely depending on factors like industry, role, and of course, performance.
But wait – it doesn’t stop there.
Many companies offer additional incentives such as bonuses for meeting stretch or team goals.
It’s not uncommon for successful reps who consistently exceed their targets to get rewarded with lavish trips or prizes alongside monetary rewards.

6. Training and Education
The path to becoming a highly-paid professional starts with an entry-level sales job. Finding a first job with solid training and management support is a critical first step.
These sales positions are not glamorous but are mandatory for gaining vital experience, cutting one’s teeth, and learning more about sales and business through doing.
A formal education isn’t generally necessary in sales, but it can give you a leg up in more specialized or technical fields.
Many successful salespeople have degrees in business or the fields they are selling into.
Yet, what matters more (in most situations) are your people & sales skills and your self-belief.
Finally, commit to ongoing learning through books, courses, seminars, podcasts, and other forms of sales training.
This profession is about lifelong learning, so commit to expanding your knowledge, and applying what you are learning in the field.
7. Work-Life Balance
Sales careers are often marked by long hours, challenging targets, and travel demands.
This dynamic work environment can be exciting, offering opportunities to meet new people, visit different places, and improve your skills every single day.
Once beyond entry-level roles, sales jobs are typically performance-based.
Managers care less about the hours worked and more about the results. You have more control over your day than most jobs provide.
The flip side? The pressure of targets might mean you’ll find yourself working odd hours or dealing with clients across time zones.
Flexibility: A Double-edged Sword?
Flexibility in sales doesn’t always translate into ‘easy’. It means adapting quickly to prospect needs or market changes – think early morning calls with overseas clients or late-night prep for tomorrow’s big presentation.
Also these days it’s possible you’ll be working from home, which can blur the lines between work and personal life.

Discipline is necessary to focus on the results you need in order to survive and thrive in sales.
On the other hand, you can’t become so obsessed with achieving challenging targets that you don’t enjoy time with family and friends, focus on your health, and invest in other personal interests.
Strategies for Maintaining Work-life Balance
How do successful salespeople manage this juggling act? Here are three effective strategies:
- Schedule Your Work and Tasks: Use tools like digital calendars or project management apps to stay organized and focus on high-value activities first, while ensuring lower-value activities are scheduled.
- Maintain Boundaries: Resist the urge to respond immediately unless necessary – keep certain times sacred for family/personal space.
- Nurture Relationships Outside of Work: Remember, relationships are a critical component of a happy and fulfilling life. Take time to unwind and enjoy life beyond sales.
8. Job Market and Demand for Sales Professionals
The job market for sales professionals is always thriving, even during a recession.
Despite economic fluctuations, the need for talented individuals to sell products and services remains constant.
Apart from job availability, sales careers also have the potential for growth, promotion, and ongoing learning
Professional salespeople tend to be ambitious, so expect plenty of opportunities to move up, take on more responsibility, and manage others, if that’s something you want.
Sales isn’t confined to one industry either. From technology companies to financial services, all sectors require competent sales representatives.
As such, it’s safe to say that pursuing a career in this field offers numerous opportunities no matter your interest or area of expertise.
If you are considering getting started as a sales rep or other type of sales role, commit to constantly improving your sales skills and prepare to switch jobs as trends change and opportunities arise… but rest assured, a skilled salesperson is always in demand!
FAQs
Can you make a good living in sales?
You bet. A career in sales offers the chance for solid earnings, but you must persevere in the early years.
Part of a good living is life satisfaction, and a successful sales career can also provide that.
How do I know if sales is right for me?
If you enjoy challenges, are resilient, respond well to pressure, and like working with people, then this might be your calling. Being money-motivated also helps!
Honestly, how stressful is sales?
Sales can definitely be stressful – dealing with rejection and managing pressure situations are part of the gig. But it can also be incredibly rewarding too.

Is sales a good career option for me?
Only you can answer this question, but hopefully this article has helped.
Conclusion
So, is sales a good career option for you? You’ve seen the potential earnings and growth opportunities that exist in this field.
The high earning potential is alluring. The skills you gain – communication, and time management – they’re priceless and highly transferable.
Certainly, there are challenges, but life is all about overcoming difficult things for big rewards.
If you’re passionate about working hard, solving problems, and serving others, then success might just be around the corner for you, with a career in sales.