If you’re just getting started and you’ve never done this door-to-door thing before, even on your very first year on average, 20 grand in summer, that’s like a killer.
Sam Taggart here – your sales training expert
The general perception of door-to-door earnings is that it’s like the low man on the totem pole regarding sales jobs. Usually, medical supply sales or software sales are seen as way more professional, technical, and cool. But I know door-to-door sales guys who would run circles around other sales industries regarding income level. Many people do this because they can’t get another job or it’s necessary.
The reality is that you should shift your mindset to be, “No, I’ve entered into one of the best vehicles for some of the highest potential earning out there.”
If you’re a sales rep or aspiring to be one, a core question that must be filling you up with anxiety is that of 💵and whether door-to-door sales are worth it as a career.
As a 17-year veteran at the helm of the D2D industry, I am here to answer exactly that with key door-to-door sales statistics and my insights on those.
How Much Can a Sales Rep Make By Selling Door To Door?
Door-to-door sales professionals can make millions. I mean, I’m sitting in a million-dollar home right now. I drive the truck of my choice. I travel the world and have done it all by knocking on doors. If you’re just getting started and you’ve never done this door-to-door thing before, even on your very first year on average, 20 grand in summer, that’s like a killer.
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I’ll tell you my story. I mean, I made probably 20 grand in my very first two months. Then I left. I finished the season, returned the second season, and made about 80 grand in four months. And then I made 250 grand in four months. That’s a lot of money. And a lot of times, a lot of people don’t understand, like professionals, like guys that have a bachelor’s degree, don’t make $250,000.
It’s hard to make that kind of money.
The reality is, because we’re hungry, we’re the ones that are willing to go door after door, new prospect after new prospect, get our face kicked in, but also create the business. Many sales jobs are just the scavengers waiting for the scraps to be fed. I looked at a car salesman, and I go, well, what if no one shows up to your lock?
You often depend on how well the store, the trap flow goes, where door-to-door, there are a million doors out here you could knock. You have to get off your butt and do it. So, they are the highest-paid professionals and some of the lowest-paid professionals.
Let’s talk real numbers now.
So, the reality is you start as a rep. So, if I’m brand new to this industry, it’s great. You’re going to have to work your way up. And that’s just part of the journey. So, accept that rep, you know, if you’re selling like a pest, solar, roofs, or something like that. You often do it for summer, maybe because of the lighting or you’re in school.
Most guys can make 20 $30,000 in three or four months. Now some of you guys are like, this must be a scam. I’m like, there’s no way I can make that much money. It’s like, yeah, think twice; I’m going to do a summer internship.
I’m going to work at fricking Kohl’s or Home Depot, or I’m going to make some real money and give it a shot.
And then you get, like, reps. I know reps making a million dollars just as a sales professional. They’re selling all year: no team, leader, or business owner. They have a badge, a shirt, a clipboard, an iPad, or whatever. They’re going and hitting the pavement, bringing in seven figures.
How Much Does a Door to Door Sales Management Position Make?
Now, what happens if you move up into a management role?
Most of these companies are structured so that you get paid to recruit. It’s not some MLM. We have to buy products to keep it beyond the team. You’re not doing that. They incentivize you to build and lead these teams and create more sales volume for yourself. So, managers typically make a percentage or an override over the teams below them.
This means that if I had 20 guys under me at any moment, I might make a small percentage of their sales. Therefore, I’m still selling, making my half-million bucks or 20 grand or 50 grand, whatever you’re making. But, then, I’m also making money on every single one of these guys.
How Much Do Regional Door-to-Door Sales Managers Make?
Then, a regional manager makes money on multiple teams. Many companies will give you a clear path to becoming a sales rep, managing, and regional manager. And then there’s an owner role, which is like a VP owner role, where you could start your own. You could, you know, really be like a business owner and do this as your source of revenue. It’s a very powerful, predictable revenue stream.
What I mean by that is, a lot of us, we’ll throw $10,000 at a Facebook ad, and then we’re going to like SEO five grand a month. And then we’re going to whatever. And I’m like, okay, without even doing any of that and hoping that my ads rank or my listing is up there and people click on it, which somehow converts into a lead. And it’s all in hopes of a six-month or a two-year process to build that out. I could not even have a website like zero, knock a door, no business card, no shirt, no badge, nothing.
Knock a door and create money. Just like that. Boom.
Earnings for Solar Sales Reps
There’s nothing quite like selling solar when you already have a passion for sustainability and the talent to wow prospects.
But how much can you hope to earn as a solar sales rep?
In this no-fluff, comprehensive breakdown, you’re going to discover:
- The A-to-Z of Solar Sales Comp: Get the insider’s scoop on how the pay structure works and why it might be the gold at the end of your rainbow.
- Earnings Ecology: From greenhorns to green giants, we’ll look at income ranges across the board. Where do you fit in?
- Wealth of Wisdom: Tips and tricks? Check. We’re spilling the secrets to pump up your paycheck.
H2 Average Salary and Commission of Solar Sales Reps in the US
Let’s cut to the chase with this quick breakdown of average earnings in the solar sales industry:
| Experience Level | Average Annual Earnings |
| Entry-Level | $76,300 (Newcomers) |
| Mid-Level | $98,300 (Mid-Level Mastery) |
| Experienced | $157,000 + (Seasoned Pros) |
Source: Zippia
Here are the three major commission models in solar sales:
- The Base Plus Commission Model
A Two-Pronged Approach Starting with a base salary provides a financial safety net, but the real thrill comes from commissions.
This is where your effort directly fuels your bank account. The more persuasive and effective you are, the higher the commission you will receive.
- Straight Commission
This is a performance-based structure in which you earn a certain percentage of each sale. There’s usually no base salary, so your earning potential is directly tied to your performance as a sales rep.
- Tiered Commission
The more you sell, the higher your commission rate. This structure rewards top performers and encourages consistent selling.
If you’re stepping into the solar sales arena, expect to earn a starting salary that reflects your budding status.
Your income potential grows as you gain experience and finesse your skills.
Here’s a snapshot:
You’re looking at around $95,427 annually.
Commission rates vary depending on the company, the product, and the market, but they can range from 5% to 20% or more.
This is in addition to the base salary, a fixed amount you will receive regardless of your sales trajectory.
Here are some examples of solar sales income based on different scenarios.
We will assume that the base salary is $45,900 and the commission rate is 10% for 2024.
- Scenario 1: You make ten sales, with an average value of $20,000 per sale. Your commission will be $20,000 (10% of $200,000), and your total income will be $65,900 ($45,900 + $20,000).
- Scenario 2: You make 20 sales, with an average value of $20,000 per sale. Your commission will be $40,000 (10% of $400,000), and your total income will be $85,900 ($45,900 + $40,000).
Of course, these are just hypothetical examples, and your actual income as a solar sales rep can be entirely different depending on many factors.
Check out my insightful guide to selling solar for beginners
Comparison of Solar Sales Rep Earnings by Location
Your earning potential as a solar sales rep isn’t set in stone.
Some areas have a higher number of potential customers, higher electricity rates, and more incentives for solar adoption than others, leading to more opportunities and commissions for solar sales reps.
For example, according to Talent.com, the average salary of a solar sales rep in California is $100,000/year, while the average salary of a solar sales rep in Texas is $144,741.
These states have well-established solar programs and incentives, which increase demand for solar products and, in turn, your potential customer base.
Contrarily, if you work in states like Alaska or Wyoming, where the solar industry is underdeveloped, expect to earn low.
Unlock Your Full Earning Potential with D2D University
Learn the Skills That Top Performers Use to Make Six Figures and Beyond
It’s Up To You How Much Can You Make Selling Door To Door
No other industry, like scarce places, can you spend zero dollars. What you’re spending is your energy and effort. You can create money. So, you do that on a multiplication scale. I have teams that do that for me; I’m doing it. Uh, and you get more sophisticated and learn how to do it.
So door-to-door. I know many millionaires, many people have gone on this, started other businesses, invested in real estate, created this lifestyle for themselves, knocking on doors, like taking some pride in being a door knocker. Like many people, they’re like, uh, door knocking, like that’s beneath me. I look at them, and I go, no, you’re just too pussy to do it. And so, it’s like so many people out there don’t realize that it takes grind. It takes butt it sweat tears. It’s like hard. Yeah. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but at the end of the day, we get paid to be professional, and what we do is professional money.
So, anyway, if you’re interested in learning more about how to get into it, I always connect with people. I’m like, Hey, here’s a good company for you in your local market—the biggest networking door-to-door sales. So, feel free to hit me up on The Tribe or Facebook or Instagram or whatever.
You can find us on Sam Taggart D2D experts, or YouTube. Find our podcast and subscribe. If you wanna learn more about what the tribe is about and how you get into it, start listening to the podcast. Start commenting on our Facebook group, put in the D2D tribe, and our Facebook group of thousands of door-to-door sales professionals come up. But, if you’re curious about what this is about, I promise it’s a new movement, cool, with a lavish lifestyle and a great income.
I knocked doors since I was 11! Never bought into the whole hourly normal job, and used direct sales to be the vehicle to create MASSIVE success. I Started the Direct Sales division for Solcius as their VP building it up to have 70+ sales reps nation wide. In 2018 I left to pursue a greater mission to unify and uplevel the Door to Door industry and founded the D2D Experts.
