# Entry Level Sales Jobs With No Experience (2026 Guide)

> The best entry-level sales jobs are sales development rep (SDR), inside sales rep, B2B field sales rep, retail sales associate and insurance agent. Choose one with a base salary and training, show the selling you already do with numbers, and apply early on the company's own website.

Canonical: https://jobunlocked.com/blog/entry-level-sales-jobs
Last updated: 2026-11-01

Published: 2026-11-01
Author: JobUnlocked Team

## Key takeaways

- The best first sales jobs are SDR, inside sales, B2B field sales, retail sales and insurance.
- Pick one that pays a base salary and trains you. Skip jobs with no base, a fee to start or a recruiting pitch.
- A typical SDR earns a $60,000 base and $90,000 at quota, and about 57% hit quota.
- Serving tables in Denver already taught you to sell. Upsells and regulars belong on your resume.

The best entry-level sales jobs are sales development rep (SDR), inside sales rep, B2B field sales rep, retail sales associate and insurance agent. You don't need sales experience for any of them: pick one that pays a base salary and trains you, then show the selling you already do with numbers.

This guide is for anyone moving into sales: a restaurant server in Denver, a new graduate, or a retail worker who keeps beating their store targets. It covers each type of first sales job, what it pays, how commission works and how to get hired.

## The entry-level sales cheat sheet

| Job type | What you do | How you're paid | Typical pay | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Sales development rep (SDR)](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/entry-level-sales-jobs#sales-development-rep-sdr) | Call and email businesses to book meetings | Base plus commission | $60,000 base, $90,000 at quota | Phone confidence; degree often preferred |
| [Inside sales rep](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/entry-level-sales-jobs#inside-sales-rep) | Close smaller deals by phone and video | Base plus commission | Varies by company | Comfort on the phone |
| [B2B field sales rep](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/entry-level-sales-jobs#b2b-field-sales-rep) | Visit local businesses in a territory | Base plus commission or bonus | $72,080 median | Driver's license, often a degree |
| [Retail sales associate](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/entry-level-sales-jobs#retail-sales-associate) | Help shoppers choose and buy in a store | Hourly, sometimes commission | $17.03 an hour median | No experience or degree |
| [Insurance agent](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/entry-level-sales-jobs#insurance-agent) | Sell auto, home, life or health policies | Often commission-heavy | $62,280 median | A state license |
| [Leasing, car and real estate sales](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/entry-level-sales-jobs#leasing-car-and-real-estate-sales) | Sign leases, sell cars or homes | Hourly plus bonus, or commission | Varies widely | A license for real estate |
| [Medical sales](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/entry-level-sales-jobs#medical-sales) | Sell devices or drugs to clinics and hospitals | Base plus bonus, then commission | Varies by company | A degree and B2B sales results |

Pay figures come from RepVue's verified SDR salaries and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for May 2025. BLS figures are medians for all experience levels, so first-year pay is usually lower ([BLS, 2026](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/wholesale-and-manufacturing-sales-representatives.htm)).

## Three rules that matter more than any job title

**1. Take a job with a base salary and training.** A base pays you while you learn, and a training programme teaches you the product and the process. Under US law, inside sales reps who sell by phone or online must get at least minimum wage; commission-only pay is legal mainly for outside sales reps who sell away from the office ([U.S. Department of Labor](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/17f-overtime-outside-sales)). Skip ads with no base and "unlimited earning potential", any fee to start, or a pitch to recruit friends. The FTC is clear that honest employers never ask you to pay to get a job ([FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams)), and that recruiting-focused offers are often multi-level marketing ([FTC](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/multi-level-marketing-businesses-and-pyramid-schemes)).

**2. Your service experience counts.** Upselling, reading people, handling complaints and hitting targets are the core of sales. Write them as results with numbers, not duties.

**3. Apply early, on the company's own website.** Sales hiring is tighter than hiring overall. Indeed's index of US sales job postings was 92.3 in late October 2026, against a pre-pandemic baseline of 100 ([Indeed Hiring Lab via FRED, 2026](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/IHLIDXUSTPSALE)). Teams hire in batches and fill roles fast.

## Sales development rep (SDR)

**This is the classic first job in tech and B2B sales.** You research companies, send emails, make calls and book meetings for account executives (AEs), who close the deals. The same role is often called business development rep (BDR).

**What's different:** pay is split between base and commission. RepVue's verified salary data puts the median SDR at $60,000 base and $90,000 on-target earnings (OTE), the total if you hit 100% of quota, and 56.9% of SDRs hit quota ([RepVue, 2026](https://www.repvue.com/salaries/sales-development-representative)). Here's how that works:

| | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base salary (paid no matter what) | $60,000 |
| Commission at 100% of quota | $30,000 |
| On-target earnings (OTE) | $90,000 |
| At 60% of quota (simple plan) | about $78,000 |

**Example:** a software company's SDR team books meetings that its AEs then try to close. The Bridge Group's 2025 study of 351 B2B companies found SDRs stay about 1.9 years on average, and promotions made up 16% of SDRs leaving their role in 2024, down from 34% in 2020 ([Bridge Group, 2025](https://www.bridgegroupinc.com/research/2025-sdr-models-metrics-report-the-bridge-group)). The move up to AE is real but slower than many courses promise. AEs earn a median $105,000 base and $200,000 OTE ([RepVue, 2026](https://www.repvue.com/salaries/account-executive)).

**Common mistake:** going to the interview without proof you can prospect. Bring a list of 10 companies you'd target for them and one sample outreach email.

## Inside sales rep

**This is sales without cold calling all day.** You work inbound leads and existing customers, run demos and close smaller deals by phone, video and email.

**What's different:** you talk to people who already showed interest, so it's less rejection than SDR work. Because you sell from an office or home, you must be paid at least minimum wage, whatever the commission plan.

**Example:** software, telecom and business services companies hire inside sales reps to handle sign-ups and upgrades from their website.

**Common mistake:** ignoring the quota question. Ask what share of the team hit quota last quarter and what new reps earn in their first year.

## B2B field sales rep

**This is a training ground many sales managers recommend.** You visit local businesses in a territory to sell services such as payroll, uniforms, building supplies or office equipment.

**What's different:** you drive to customers, so you need a license and a car, and you manage your own day. The BLS median for sales reps selling non-technical products is $72,080 a year ([BLS, 2026](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/wholesale-and-manufacturing-sales-representatives.htm)). Many companies run formal training programmes for new reps.

**Example:** sales reps on Reddit often point beginners to payroll, uniform and building supply companies, which hire new reps in classes and train them. It's also the usual first step toward medical sales.

**Common mistake:** taking a commission-only field job as your first role. Outside sales can legally be commission-only, so check for a base before you accept.

## Retail sales associate

**This is the easiest sales job to get.** You help shoppers choose products, answer questions and close the sale in a store.

**What's different:** you're paid by the hour, sometimes with commission or bonuses. The BLS median for retail salespersons is $17.03 an hour ([BLS, 2026](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/retail-sales-workers.htm)).

**Example:** stores with high-ticket products (phones, mattresses, furniture, appliances) teach the most selling, because customers ask real questions and push back on price.

**Common mistake:** not tracking your numbers. Sales per hour, add-on rate and store rank are what your next employer will ask about.

## Insurance agent

**This is a sales job you can start with a license instead of a degree.** You sell auto, home, life or health policies to people and small businesses.

**What's different:** you need a state license, which means a short course and an exam, and agents must be licensed in each state where they sell. Pay is often commission-heavy, though some employers pay a salary while you build your book. The BLS median is $62,280 a year ([BLS, 2026](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/insurance-sales-agents.htm)).

**Example:** some insurers and agencies hire new agents before they're licensed and help them prepare for the exam.

**Common mistake:** taking a commission-only role before you have any clients. Ask whether new agents get a salary or a draw in their first months.

## Leasing, car and real estate sales

**These are quick ways into sales for people who like meeting customers face to face.** Leasing consultants show apartments and sign leases, car salespeople help buyers choose and finance cars, and real estate agents help people buy and sell homes.

**What's different:** pay structures vary the most here. Leasing usually pays hourly plus a bonus per lease. Car sales is mostly commission, sometimes with a draw. Real estate agents usually work on commission only, and need a state license. The BLS median for real estate sales agents is $52,830 ([BLS, 2026](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/real-estate-brokers-and-sales-agents.htm)).

**Example:** a leasing consultant job at a large property manager is often the steadiest of the three, with a base wage and set hours.

**Common mistake:** expecting real estate to replace a paycheck quickly. Commission-only work can take months before the first sale closes.

## Medical sales

**This is where many people want to end up, but rarely where they start.** You sell medical devices or drugs to clinics, surgeons and hospitals.

**What's different:** most associate sales rep postings ask for a bachelor's degree, one to two years of B2B sales results and a driver's license. Recruiters ask for a brag book: a short file of your rankings, quota reports, reviews and a 30-60-90 day plan.

**Example:** Philips' talent team says the usual path into medical device sales starts with an entry-level B2B role with formal training, and warns that changing jobs every few months hurts you ([Philips](https://www.usa.philips.com/a-w/our-people/life-at-philips/articles/career-advice/no-medical-device-sales-experience-no-problem)).

**Common mistake:** paying for a certificate that promises to get you in. A record of B2B sales results matters more to hiring managers.

## What fits your situation

| Your situation | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant server or bartender | Inside sales or SDR | Upselling and reading people carry over directly |
| Retail worker who beats targets | B2B field sales | Your store numbers prove you can sell |
| New graduate | SDR | Structured training and a clear path to AE |
| No degree | Retail, insurance or leasing | Hired on skills or a license, not a degree |
| You want medical sales eventually | B2B field sales first | The route medical device recruiters expect |
| You need steady pay now | Retail or leasing | Hourly pay while you learn to sell |

## How to actually do it

1. **Pick one lane** from the cheat sheet. Tech SDR, B2B field sales, retail and insurance each want slightly different things.
2. **Turn your current job into sales results.** Use your real numbers:

| Instead of this | Write this |
|---|---|
| Served customers in a busy restaurant | Served 120+ guests a shift; raised average check 18% by recommending wine pairings and desserts |
| Responsible for handling complaints | Turned around 3-5 unhappy guests a week; several became regulars who asked for my section |
| Retail associate | Ranked #2 of 14 associates for credit card sign-ups in Q3 |
| Trained new staff | Trained 6 new servers on the menu and upselling |

3. **Build your resume around those results.** Our [resume builder](https://jobunlocked.com/resume) has a template called Closer made for sales resumes and can tailor your resume to a specific job ad. It checks every rewritten line against your original resume and reverts any line that adds a tool, skill, number or duty you didn't list. The [ATS-friendly resume guide](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/ats-friendly-resume) covers formatting.
4. **Search jobs from company websites.** Browse [entry-level sales jobs](https://jobunlocked.com/jobs?category=sales&seniority=intern,junior) on JobUnlocked, where every job links to the company's own posting. Filter to [sales jobs that list pay](https://jobunlocked.com/jobs?category=sales&hasSalary=1), [sales jobs posted today](https://jobunlocked.com/jobs?category=sales&posted=1d) or [remote sales jobs](https://jobunlocked.com/jobs?category=sales&mode=remote).
5. **Check the pay structure** in each posting: base, commission and whether training is paid.
6. **Apply within a day or two**, on the company's own posting.
7. **Practise the classic interview.** Expect "Sell me this pen", "How do you handle rejection?" and "Why sales?". Answer with a real story from your job.
8. **Follow up the same day** with a short thank-you email. It shows the habit they're hiring for.

Want steadier pay first? [Customer service jobs](https://jobunlocked.com/jobs/customer-service) build the same skills, and our guide to [remote customer service jobs](https://jobunlocked.com/blog/remote-customer-service-jobs) covers what they pay and who hires.

**Bottom line:** The best first sales job pays a base salary, trains you and fits the experience you already have. For the server in Denver, that's an inside sales or SDR role, a resume full of check averages and upsell results, and applications to [entry-level sales jobs](https://jobunlocked.com/jobs?category=sales&seniority=intern,junior) on company websites the day they go up.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the easiest sales job to get?

Retail sales associate is the easiest to get. Most stores hire without experience or a degree and pay by the hour, with a median of $17.03 an hour (BLS, May 2025). Leasing consultant and inside sales roles are close behind.

### Can I do sales with no experience?

Yes. Most entry-level sales jobs train you, and hiring managers look for coachability, resilience and people skills. A server in Denver who upsells wine and handles complaints already has proof of those. Put the numbers on your resume.

### What does an entry-level sales job do?

It depends on the role. An SDR calls and emails businesses to book meetings, an inside sales rep closes smaller deals by phone, and a retail associate helps shoppers in a store. All of them talk to customers every day and work toward a target.

### How do I get into tech sales with no experience?

Apply for sales development rep (SDR) or business development rep (BDR) roles at software companies. They pay a base plus commission and train new hires. Bring a target account list and a sample outreach email to the interview.

### How to get into medical sales with no experience?

Start with one to two years in a B2B sales job with formal training, keep every ranking and quota report, then apply for associate sales representative roles. Most medical device postings ask for a bachelor's degree and B2B sales results.

### Can I get a medical sales job without a degree?

Rarely. Most medical device and pharma sales jobs ask for a bachelor's degree. Without one, build a strong B2B sales record first; some employers accept equivalent experience instead of a degree.

### Do entry-level sales jobs pay commission only?

Good ones don't. Most pay a base salary plus commission. Under US law, inside sales reps who sell by phone or online must get at least minimum wage. Commission-only pay is legal mainly for outside sales reps and true contractors.

### Can you make $500,000 a year in sales?

A few people do, but not at entry level. RepVue's top-performing account executives report about $508,800 a year, while the median account executive target is $200,000. New SDRs typically target around $90,000.

## Sources

- [Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/wholesale-and-manufacturing-sales-representatives.htm) - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- [Retail Sales Workers](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/retail-sales-workers.htm) - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- [Insurance Sales Agents](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/insurance-sales-agents.htm) - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- [Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/real-estate-brokers-and-sales-agents.htm) - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- [Job Postings on Indeed in the United States: Sales](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/data/IHLIDXUSTPSALE) - Indeed Hiring Lab via FRED
- [Sales Development Representative Salary](https://www.repvue.com/salaries/sales-development-representative) - RepVue
- [Account Executive Salary](https://www.repvue.com/salaries/account-executive) - RepVue
- [2025 SDR Models, Metrics and Compensation Report](https://www.bridgegroupinc.com/research/2025-sdr-models-metrics-report-the-bridge-group) - The Bridge Group
- [Fact Sheet #17F: Exemption for Outside Sales Employees Under the FLSA](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/17f-overtime-outside-sales) - U.S. Department of Labor
- [Job Scams](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams) - Federal Trade Commission
- [Multi-Level Marketing Businesses and Pyramid Schemes](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/multi-level-marketing-businesses-and-pyramid-schemes) - Federal Trade Commission
- [No medical device sales experience? No problem](https://www.usa.philips.com/a-w/our-people/life-at-philips/articles/career-advice/no-medical-device-sales-experience-no-problem) - Philips