do salespeople make more money compare to accountants?

Question

i am thinking about changing my career from accountants to sales, i've heard salespeople make a fortune and the job is quite exciting, i wont be stuck in my desk all the time, i am a people person and i enjoy persuading people, do you think i should make the move? anybody got any experience in both industries?

Answer 1

It really depends on what your selling... I started out selling cell phones and was not making it rich or anything but it paid my bills.
Then i got into the mortgage industry and started selling money (loans/ re-fi's) and i am pretty sure on even a bad year i make more then an accountant.

This is what someone told me when i got into sales..

"If your going to sell make sure your selling the most expensive thing on the market because thats where the money is"

Answer 2

I switched to sales after 20 years in the contracting and music business. I made more money on commission in the first 4 months than in any previous year. It really depends what you are selling and how much "room" (gross profit and commission rate) there is in the product or service you are selling. I was selling high end musical instruments and recording gear. I now have my own company and apply the techniques that I was taught in sales training to my own line of work. You say you are a people person and enjoy "persuading people". In the end, that, drive and ambition are all you need to succeed. Two of my best friends are multi-millionaire salesman with their own companies.
One is fond of saying about his product/service: "how should I know (such and such), I only sell the stuff"....