How To Become A Sales Coach: What It Is and Career Path

What is a sales coach and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted Expert

Ken Corbit Ph.D.

If a company wants to boost its revenue, one place they're likely to turn is to a sales coach. These experts in marketing and motivation can be the key to turning a business' faltering salesforce into a money-making machine.

When a sales coach comes onto the job, the first thing they might do is analyze their company's marketing trends and sales tactics. Part of this analysis often involves accompanying team members on their sales trips, making this a desirable career choice for avid travelers.

After identifying any apparent issues, the sales coach will craft a training strategy, including creating learning materials, designing training courses, and scheduling coaching sessions.

Once the plan is ready, it's put into action. The sales coach will usually work directly with the sales team, providing guidance in pitches, cold calling, and other sales techniques -- in general, whatever needs to be done to improve the team's performance.

Companies typically hire experienced salespeople for this role and usually prefer candidates with at least a bachelor's degree in marketing, business, or a related field. This is a rewarding career opportunity that can earn you an average annual salary of around $85,000.

What general advice would you give to a Sales Coach?

Ken Corbit Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Marketing, Texas Christian University

Strategic
Company Selection:
Focus on joining companies with robust sales training programs, emphasizing consultative selling. Look for organizations that invest in your development, providing live calling experiences, quota-driven sales processes, and exposure to tools like Salesforce.

Tech
Proficiency and Sales Tools Mastery:
Familiarize yourself with cutting-edge sales technologies, including CRM tools like Salesforce. Your proficiency in these tools will not only streamline your sales processes but also position you as a tech-savvy professional in the competitive sales landscape.

Hands-On
Experience:
Actively engage in live calling, take ownership of sales funnels, and work with senior hiring authorities during your training. This hands-on experience will not only build your confidence but also prepare you for the challenges of consultative selling.

Research
and Decision-Making Skills:
Develop strong research skills to evaluate companies based on fit, growth opportunities, compensation structures, and overall potential. This informed decision-making approach will set you apart and empower you to navigate the sales landscape strategically.

Mentorship
and Networking:
Seek mentorship both within and outside your organization. Building relationships with mentors who invest in your sales skills and knowledge will provide valuable insights. Additionally, actively participate in online forums to connect with practical sales
knowledge and best practices.

ScoreSales CoachUS Average

Salary

4.4

Avg. Salary $56,159

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.4

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.65%

Asian 6.92%

Black or African American 8.58%

Hispanic or Latino 18.20%

Unknown 4.65%

White 60.99%

Gender

female 44.02%

male 55.98%

Age - 42

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 - 42

Stress Level

9.4

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

5.2

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a sales coach

Explore sales coach education requirements

Most common sales coach degrees

Bachelor's

65.3 %

Associate

14.7 %

Master's

8.1 %

Start to develop specific sales coach skills

Skills	Percentages
Sales Training	11.01%
CRM	9.36%
Call Monitoring	6.20%
Sales Performance	5.22%
Continuous Improvement	4.69%

Complete relevant sales coach training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New sales coaches 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 sales coach based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real sales coach resumes.

Research sales coach duties and responsibilities

Achieve proficiency in all aspects of international business from documentation to freight logistics to pricing negotiations.
Prepare new sales representatives by conducting orientation to sales process; developing individual coaching plans; providing resources and assistance.
Analyze and recommend strategic plans for sales team, providing analysis and recommendations on ongoing team development and leadership.
Maintain detailed accountability of valuable jewelry, handle new merchandise, and maintain employee focus on departmental organization and cleanliness.

Prepare your sales coach resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your sales coach 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 sales coach resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Sales Coach Resume templates

Build a professional Sales Coach 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 Sales Coach resume.

Apply for sales coach jobs

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

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

How do sales coaches rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Sales Coach reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Cons

I like everything

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019

Pros

I always like the challenging and competitive environment which strengthen our skills and develop new leaders.