Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,010 | $15.39 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Mean (average) | $43,850 | $21.08 |
| 90th percentile | $51,470 | $24.74 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 14 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $39,520 | $35,090 | $62,830 | 560 | 1.73 |
| Colorado | $38,590 | $30,800 | $48,890 | ||
| Connecticut | $37,440 | $36,880 | $39,520 | ||
| Indiana | $39,870 | $21,890 | $46,010 | 200 | 3.54 |
| Kansas | $32,970 | $16,640 | $94,280 | ||
| Maryland | $34,290 | $31,850 | $51,490 | ||
| Michigan | $36,700 | $34,070 | $38,590 | ||
| Missouri | $46,380 | $42,910 | $113,810 | ||
| New Jersey | $44,370 | $34,770 | $44,370 | ||
| North Carolina | $37,370 | $36,180 | $44,290 | 140 | 1.61 |
| Ohio | $36,210 | $35,400 | $38,620 | 60 | 0.65 |
| Texas | $46,040 | $30,670 | $73,340 | 160 | 0.65 |
| Utah | $38,990 | $37,310 | $45,740 | 90 | 3.03 |
| Virginia | $32,320 | $30,250 | $37,850 | 100 | 1.4 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 94.6%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Explain products or services and prices and demonstrate use of products.
- Develop prospect lists.
- Deliver merchandise and collect payment.
- Write and record orders for merchandise or enter orders into computers.
- Arrange buying parties and solicit sponsorship of such parties to sell merchandise.
- Answer questions about product features and benefits.
- Distribute product samples or literature that details products or services.
- Circulate among potential customers or travel by foot, truck, automobile, or bicycle to deliver or sell merchandise or services.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Route mapping software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Persuasion, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination, Negotiation, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Direct Sales Coach, Door-to-Door Sales Trainer, Independent Beauty Consultant, Independent Distributor, Independent Sales Associate, Independent Sales Representative, Sales Representative (Sales Rep), Street Vendor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers make?
The national median annual wage for door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers was $41,380 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $32,010 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $51,470. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers to change -10.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Missouri ($46,380), Texas ($46,040), New Jersey ($44,370). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.