Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers

41-9091.00 Zone 1 — Little or No Preparation Needed

Sell goods or services door-to-door or on the street.

Also known as: Balloon Seller, Beauty Consultant, Beauty Counselor, Book Agent, Book Canvasser, Book Solicitor, Bumboater, Candy Butcher, ...

Annual Salary

$34,530

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$31,200 25th – 75th percentile $42,970
10th percentile $23,440
90th percentile $55,970
U.S. Employment: 4,590

Job Outlook

-10%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Declining)

Annual Job Openings 2,700 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: No formal educational credential
On-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training

What You'd Do

  • Deliver merchandise and collect payment.
  • Write and record orders for merchandise or enter orders into computers.
  • Explain products or services and prices and demonstrate use of products.
  • Arrange buying parties and solicit sponsorship of such parties to sell merchandise.
  • Answer questions about product features and benefits.
  • Circulate among potential customers or travel by foot, truck, automobile, or bicycle to deliver or sell merchandise or services.
  • Develop prospect lists.
  • Distribute product samples or literature that details products or services.
  • Order or purchase supplies.
  • Set up and display sample merchandise at parties or stands.

Top Skills

Speaking 4.0
Persuasion 4.0
Social Perceptiveness 3.8
Service Orientation 3.6
Active Listening 3.4
Coordination 3.3
Negotiation 3.3
Reading Comprehension 3.0

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 4.4
Sales and Marketing 4.2
English Language 3.3
Administrative 3.0
Administration and Management 3.0
Education and Training 2.6
Personnel and Human Resources 2.5
Psychology 2.4

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

< High School
56.5%
High School
43.5%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

Facebook Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software

Other Tools

Operating system software Route mapping software Web browser software

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

2.9
Perseverance
2.9
Achievement Orientation
2.8
Social Orientation
2.7
Optimism
2.4
Self-Confidence
2.0
Initiative
1.8
Dependability

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Oral Expression 4.0
Oral Comprehension 3.9
Speech Recognition 3.5
Speech Clarity 3.5
Written Expression 3.1
Written Comprehension 3.0
Information Ordering 3.0
Fluency of Ideas 2.9

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Selling or Influencing Others 4.6
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public 4.5
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships 4.3
Communicating with People Outside the Organization 3.8
Getting Information 3.7
Coaching and Developing Others 3.7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work 3.7
Developing and Building Teams 3.6

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

Freedom to Make Decisions
4.8
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
4.8
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
4.7
Telephone Conversations
4.6
E-Mail
4.5
Contact With Others
4.5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
4.1
Public Speaking
3.7
Physical Proximity
3.7
Level of Competition
3.2
Written Letters and Memos
3.1
Spend Time Standing
3.1

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.