3556 Sales accounts and business development managers

In short

• ONS unit group 3556, in minor group 355 (Sales, marketing and related associate professionals) and major group 3 (Associate professional occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): On the list: Table 1, Table 2.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £55,200 (£28.31 per hour)
  • Table 2, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £40,500 (£20.77 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

Sales accounts and business development managers plan, organise and undertake market research to meet the requirements of an organisation’s marketing and sales policies.

Typical entry routes

Entrants to the professional qualifications of the Chartered Institute of Marketing require GCSEs/S grades, A levels/H grades, a BTEC/SQA award, a degree or equivalent qualification and/or relevant experience. Qualifications in sales and from other relevant professional bodies are available.

Tasks

• liaises with other senior staff to determine the range of goods or services to be sold, contributes to the development of sales strategies and setting of sales targets
• discusses employer’s or client’s requirements, carries out surveys and analyses customers’ reactions to product, packaging, price, etc.
• compiles and analyses sales figures, prepares proposals for marketing campaigns and promotional activities and undertakes market research
• handles customer accounts
• recruits and trains junior sales staff
• produces reports and recommendations concerning marketing and sales strategies for senior management
• keeps up to date with products and competitors

Related job titles

• Account manager (sales)
• Area sales manager
• Business development manager
• Product development manager
• Sales manager

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on median Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

3556 Sales accounts and business development managers

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Brand managers
• Business development managers
• Sales account managers
• Sales accounts and business development managers not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£55,200 (£28.31 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£38,600 (£19.79 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Table 2: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on 25th percentile Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

3556 Sales accounts and business development managers

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

1121, 1133, 3538, 3545

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Brand managers
• Business development managers
• Sales account managers
• Sales accounts and business development managers not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£40,500 (£20.77 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£28,300 (£14.51 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Other unit groups in minor group 355

• 3551 Buyers and procurement officers
• 3552 Business sales executives
• 3553 Merchandisers
• 3554 Advertising and marketing associate professionals
• 3555 Estate agents and auctioneers
• 3557 Events managers and organisers

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

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