How to Shift to the Highest Paying Sales Jobs 
by Robyn Melhuish
 
You’ve been working sales for some time, but you’re getting bored. You’re meeting and exceeding your quota with ease, and you’re ready to learn more and move your career forward. You’re also looking to bump your salary. You have solid sales experience, but maybe it’s limited to a certain niche or industry. Is it possible to make a transition? Where should you start?
If it’s time to take your career to the next level (and the next salary bracket!), check out these top-paying sales jobs and find out how you can make a transition:
 
Digital Media Sales
The money: Media is increasingly going digital, and digital media sales professionals are benefiting from the shift. A survey conducted by Digiday and SellerCrowd in 2013 found that digital media sales people bring in a median salary of $175,000 each year. Those with just one to three years of experience made a median of $115,000. In addition, respondents reported annual commissions from $20,000 to $145,000.
How to get there: Print media, broadcast, and cable are dying. If you’re in sales for one of these traditional media platforms, get out and get into digital. Start by selling integrated packages that mix traditional and digital media to get the necessary experience, and eventually shift to digital exclusively.
If you don’t have any experience in media sales, learn as much as you can about the industry. Technology and media are constantly changing, so get familiar with the latest trends before entering the job search. Search engine optimization, rich media ads, banners, and buttons are some good areas to start your research.
Because the industry does change often, show agencies that you have the potential to learn quickly and adapt to new information and technologies.
 
Medical Device Sales
The money: Medical sales is a lucrative industry, and device sales salaries are among the highest in the field. According to a survey of medical sales professionals conducted by my company MedReps, the average salary for medical device sales professionals is $156,914 per year, with an average base of $76,029.
How to get there: To be hired in medical device sales, you need first and foremost, a proven record of success in business to business sales. Knowledge and experience in the medical field is also helpful, specifically an understanding of how buying decisions are made at hospitals and health systems.
If you have experience in another area of medical sales, you may be ahead of the game, unless you’re transitioning from pharmaceutical sales. Pharmaceutical sales reps often face a stigma and may have a harder time breaking into device sales. Pharma reps don’t directly sell to doctors, so many assume that they can’t close a deal or that you can’t measure their sales numbers.
No matter which sales niche you’re coming from, gain a medical background through education or by selling other products like medical supplies first. Don’t expect to make the big bucks right away -- even with excellent sales skills, you typically need to gain experience in the medical sales field before you can expect to land medical device sales jobs.
 
Pharmaceutical sales
The money: Pharmaceutical sales is another top paying job in medical sales. The MedReps salary report found that pharmaceutical sales reps take home an average salary of $116,334, with a base of $86,965, and specialty pharma reps make an average annual salary of $134,414 with a base of $94,873. Combined, the average salary for the field is $124,622.
How to get there: Pharmaceutical sales reps need strong relationship building and communication skills, in addition to knowledge of the medical field or a background in medicine or science. Start by networking with professionals and recruiters in the field. Networking demonstrates your interpersonal skills and may help you find jobs before pharma sales employers announce them.
The pharmaceutical sales job search can be long and difficult, and you need to be prepared to sell yourself to employers. But those who have the tenacity to get a job in the field, have what it takes to succeed in the job.
 
Software Sales
The money: Data from Glassdoor shows that the average annual salary for software sales professionals in $111,638.
How to get there: If you have a background or interest in technology or IT, you may be able to break into the industry easier. To start getting experience in software, look for a smaller firm in a smaller market. You may have to take less pay than you were hoping for, but you need to gain knowledge about the industry before you can make the big bucks.
Another way to gain experience in the field is to work for a helpdesk. Working in customer service requires you to know the ins and outs of multiple products, and be able to talk about them in non-technical terms, with the average person.
The sales industry is full of lucrative opportunities in multiple niches. Grow your knowledge in a specific area and watch your salary and career grow.
 
What do you think? Which sales industries pay the most?
 
BIO:
Robyn Melhuish is the Communications Manager at MedReps.com, a job board which gives members access to the most sought after medical sales jobs and pharmaceutical sales jobs on the Web. Connect with Robyn and MedReps.com on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.