How to become a Sales Development Representative

Find and qualify new prospects to fill the sales pipeline.

Part of the career change guide — A practical, step-by-step method for moving into a new occupation — how to pick the target, work out the real gap, and prove the missing skills without going back to university.

Median pay

$60,000

Benchmark, varies by market

10-year outlook

11%

Projected change in demand

Skills to prove

Mapped to O*NET / ESCO

Typical preparation

Job zone 3

O*NET preparation level

Get your free Sales Development Representative roadmap

We turn these skills into a phased plan with free courses, checkpoints and proof you can show employers.

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Skills a Sales Development Representative needs

Ranked by how important employers rate each one. Every skill you prove is stored in your Skill Wallet and used to match you to live jobs.

Critical thinkingImportance 5/5

NegotiationImportance 5/5

Presentation skillsImportance 5/5

Stakeholder communicationImportance 5/5

Time managementImportance 5/5

Written communicationImportance 5/5

Problem solvingImportance 3/5

Your Sales Development Representative learning path, phase by phase

Phase 1 · Foundations

Weeks 1–6

Critical thinking
Negotiation

Phase 2 · Core craft

Weeks 7–14

Presentation skills
Stakeholder communication

Phase 3 · Applied practice

Weeks 15–22

Time management
Written communication

Phase 4 · Proof & portfolio

Weeks 23–30

Problem solving

This is the shape of the plan. Your own roadmap is sequenced around what you already know — see a full sample roadmap.

Free and low-cost courses for this path

5 free and low-cost courses inside

Courses are sequenced into a phased plan with checkpoints. Create a free account to unlock the full list.

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Live jobs for Sales Development Representatives right now

Inside Sales Contractor

Credit Wellness, LLCWorldwide2 months ago

$25,000 – $35,000

Sales Jedi

Creative Force Europe2 months ago

Pay on application

Business Development Representative

OutsiteNorthern America, Europe, UK, France, European timezones2 months ago

$45,000 – $50,000

Product Sales Specialist - Pet Health (CST timezone)

Tribe WellnessWorldwide2 months ago

Pay on application

Product Sales Specialist - Pet Health

Tribe WellnessUSA, CST (UTC-6)3 months ago

$55,000 – $100,000

High-Ticket Financial Sales Specialist & Team Lead Track

FSE LLCWorldwide3 months ago

$3,000 – $10,000

See how close you already are

Create your Skill Wallet and every job here gets a match score, with the exact gaps to close.

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Sales Development Representative jobs by location

Sales Development Representative by experience level

Entry level Sales Development Representative

0–2 years

Mid level Sales Development Representative

How long does it take to become a Sales Development Representative?: Most people working through a focused plan cover the 7 core skills in roughly six to nine months part-time. Your roadmap shortens automatically for skills you can already evidence.
Do I need a degree?: Usually not. Employers in this occupation weight demonstrated skills and short credentials more heavily than formal degrees.
What does a Sales Development Representative earn?: The benchmark median is $60,000, with entry-level roles below that and senior roles well above it. Pay varies substantially by market.
Is Freecoursera free?: Yes. Building your roadmap, tracking progress and applying to matched jobs costs nothing. Courses we recommend are free or low-cost wherever possible.

Start your Sales Development Representative plan today

Free forever. No credit card. Your first phase is ready in under three minutes.

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Occupation data from O*NET and ESCO. Attribution

Sector: Sales