HARDISON’S TIPS – MAY 6, 2021 – WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COMMISSION SALES
1. Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives
Median pay: $63,000
These kinds of sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. Their job security and livelihood is often almost entirely intertwined with the volume of merchandise they can sell. Their commission structure tends to reflect that. These reps are often paid with absolute or base salary plus commission plans.
2. Insurance Sales Agents
Median pay: $50,940
Insurance sales agents contact potential customers to sell different kinds of insurance. Agents spend time directly interfacing with clients, completing paperwork, and preparing presentations. They also fulfill other customer-facing and administrative responsibilities. Commission for this brand of sales is generally paid on a base salary plus commission basis. Commission percentages tend to vary by the type of insurance agents are selling.
3. Advertising Sales Agents
Median pay: $53,310
Advertising sales agents sell advertising space to businesses and individuals. They often work across a variety of industries and media, including advertising agencies, radio, television, and Internet publishing. Advertising sales agents often have strict quotas and receive a commission for meeting or exceeding them.
4. Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents
Median pay: $50,730
Real estate brokers and sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. Every state requires real estate sales professionals to be licensed. That could mean completing courses or passing a state-specific exam. They’re often self employed, so many have the flexibility to define their own commission structure.
5. Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
Median pay: $62,270
Securities, commodities, and financial services agents buy and sell securities or commodities in investment and trading firms. They can also provide financial services to businesses and individuals. Some advise customers about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, commodities, and market conditions. These salespeople often charge flat-rate commissions either per share or per trade.
6. Sales Representatives, Services, SAAS, Business Support, All Other
Median pay: $56,130
This category of sales encompasses salespeople in positions and industries in a wide variety of service-based businesses, including business support, technical consulting, electronics, telecommunications, computer systems and electronics, and software as a service. It excludes advertising, insurance, travel, and other categories. Given the wide range of industries and companies encompassed in this category, it can be hard to identify its most common commission structure.
7. Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers
Median pay: $27,420
Several different kinds of salespeople fall under this category, including professionals in telecommunications, residential building construction, and subscription programming. Given the wide range of industries and companies encompassed in this category, it can be hard to identify its most common commission structure.
