Retail Sales

• Retail sales is a common entry-level sales position, commanding little in the way of pay or prestige. It is, however, a good place to "cut your teeth" in sales. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage for retail salespeople was $20,670 in 2010. Entry-level retail salespeople can expect to earn in the lower end of the salary range, between $16,120 and $20,640 -- assuming they work full-time.
  
  

Sales Representatives

• A contract manager can sell anything from computers to advertising to cars, in a job often titled "sales representative." The BLS reports that the median wage for sales representatives for 2010 was $52,440. The middle 50 percent earned between $36,920 and $75,980. Since much of this income is derived from commissions and sales bonuses, a salesperson's experience level is not the main factor in determining their earnings.
  
  

Sales Supervisors

• In some cases, a contract manager is actually a manager -- somebody in charge of a team of salespeople. As in most management positions, sales managers make more than the individual members of their teams -- between $51,310 and $97,900 for 2010, according to the BLS. The median wage for that year was $68,880.
  
  

Commissions and Bonuses

• Many sales positions, including those for contract managers and supervisors, receive the bulk of their salaries based on how much they sell. This can be a straight commission -- a percentage of what they earn -- or a combination of salary and performance bonuses. A talented, entry-level salesperson can earn as much as more experienced colleagues -- assuming he can keep up with their sales records.