Telemarketers
Telemarketers contact potential customers by phone to solicit donations, sell goods, or promote services. They work from call centers, offices, or sometimes remote locations, reading from scripts and handling customer responses. The role involves meeting sales or donation targets while maintaining detailed records of calls and outcomes.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against telemarketers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
A day in the work
A typical day involves making dozens of calls from a prepared list, following scripts while pitching products or services. Telemarketers record call details, handle objections, and attempt to close sales or secure commitments. They may also update customer databases, attend brief training sessions on new products, and work toward daily or weekly quotas. Most shifts follow set schedules during business hours or evening windows when people are home.
Who this work suits
Holland code ECS. Enterprising work is leading, persuading and making decisions. Aptly’s interest assessment scores you on the same six scales.
You likely thrive in this role if you're enterprising—comfortable with direct sales and motivated by commission or performance goals—and conventional, preferring structured systems and clear procedures. You're organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle rejection while maintaining persistence throughout your shift.
What it takes
Preparation: Some preparation (usually high school; some on-the-job training). Most people in this occupation hold a high school diploma.
Skills that matter most
Knowledge areas
Pay by state
| State | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | $24,620 | $48,010 | $50,330 | — |
| Colorado | $39,730 | $47,670 | $62,920 | 880 |
| California | $37,290 | $46,000 | $56,910 | 3,880 |
| Connecticut | $41,490 | $45,200 | $58,900 | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $44,650 | $44,650 | $46,240 | — |
| Oregon | $37,390 | $42,060 | $46,860 | 420 |
| New York | $36,310 | $41,400 | $47,840 | 1,960 |
| Minnesota | $35,990 | $39,850 | $60,250 | 650 |
| Washington | $35,630 | $39,670 | $40,060 | 300 |
| Idaho | $28,310 | $39,400 | $41,440 | 280 |
| New Jersey | $33,460 | $39,370 | $41,850 | 410 |
| Arizona | $32,160 | $37,750 | $43,940 | 1,550 |
All 41 states
Certifications people in this field hold
- Professional Certification in Advanced Service and Sales — National Retail Federation Foundation
Training
Aptly members see WIOA-approved programs, colleges and certificates near them, with completion and earnings data, on every Path plan.
Job titles in this occupation
Related occupations
Four short assessments and your background, scored against telemarketers and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 41-9041.00 · O*NET OnLine. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, annual, U.S. Employment counts are national.