What is a head of sales and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted Expert
Bill Thorne
introduction image

A head of sales is responsible for leading the sales team of a company. They develop and implement sales strategies to achieve revenue targets and drive business growth. A head of sales manages the sales process from lead generation to closing deals. They analyze market trends, identify new opportunities, and build relationships with key clients. They are accountable for meeting sales quotas and delivering results, while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction and retention.

What general advice would you give to a Head Of Sales?

B

Bill ThorneBill Thorne LinkedIn Profile

Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation

Retail is the largest private-sector employer in the country, directly employing 32 million people and supporting 52 million jobs overall - roughly one-quarter of the U.S. workforce. While COVID-19 has presented new and unexpected challenges, retailers have continued to showcase the industry's resilience and adaptability time and again. The safety and security of customers and employees remains our greatest priority. It is no doubt that the professional environment has changed this year, but retail continues to offer a plethora of career opportunities for graduates and seasoned veterans alike.
ScoreHead Of SalesUS Average
Salary
9.3

Avg. Salary $166,100

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.4

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 4.07%

Black or African American 3.24%

Hispanic or Latino 9.82%

Unknown 4.41%

White 78.23%

Gender

female 33.50%

male 66.50%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress Level
6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.7

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.4

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Head Of Sales?

Pros

  • High earning potential

  • Leadership and management experience

  • Chance to work with a variety of people and industries

  • Exposure to upper management and decision-making processes

  • Sense of accomplishment when achieving sales goals

Cons

  • High-pressure environment with demanding targets

  • Constant need to adapt to changing market conditions and industry trends

  • Risk of burnout due to high workload and conflicting priorities

  • Potential for conflict with other departments, such as marketing or finance

  • Difficulty in maintaining work-life balance

Head Of Sales career paths

Key steps to become a head of sales

  1. Explore head of sales education requirements

    Most common head of sales degrees

    Bachelor's

    62.0 %

    Master's

    12.7 %

    Associate

    10.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific head of sales skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    CRM7.68%
    Sales Strategy6.59%
    Sales Organization5.36%
    Product Knowledge5.22%
    Business Development4.92%
  3. Complete relevant head of sales training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New heads of sales learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a head of sales based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real head of sales resumes.
  4. Research head of sales duties and responsibilities

    • Coordinate social media work (Facebook, apps, and social post within the managed brands).
    • Create, and manage social media initiatives.including facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest, and youtube.3.
    • Full responsibility for all sales activities for a start-up electronic commerce company managing electronic data flow in the healthcare industry.
    • Establish the group sales strategy, group ceiling, and booking calendar for groups.
  5. Prepare your head of sales resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your head of sales resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a head of sales resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Head Of Sales Resume templates

    Build a professional Head Of Sales resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Head Of Sales resume.
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  6. Apply for head of sales jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a head of sales job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Head Of Sales Job

Zippi

Are you a Head Of Sales?

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Average head of sales salary

The average Head Of Sales salary in the United States is $166,100 per year or $80 per hour. Head of sales salaries range between $110,000 and $248,000 per year.

Average Head Of Sales Salary
$166,100 Yearly
$79.86 hourly

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How do heads of sales rate their job?

-/5

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Head Of Sales reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

Motivating people and helping to create success in each person's day. Honor God serve people in rich people's lives, pursue excellence in service.

Cons

Not enough time in each day to get everything accomplished.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Cons

I like everything

Pros

Coming in contact with people, motivating staff, making the numbers, profitability for everyone


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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

Speaking g at trade shows and seminars. Contributing to the software products we sold. Technical writer for the owners manual.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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