Area sales representative vs inside sales representative

The differences between area sales representatives and inside sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an area sales representative and an inside sales representative. Additionally, an area sales representative has an average salary of $58,355, which is higher than the $44,413 average annual salary of an inside sales representative.

The top three skills for an area sales representative include customer service, business development and sales process. The most important skills for an inside sales representative are customer service, CRM, and outbound calls.

Area sales representative vs inside sales representative overview

	Area Sales Representative	Inside Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$58,355	$44,413
Hourly rate	$28.06	$21.35
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	199,212	244,168
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

What does an area sales representative do?

The primary role of an area sales representative is to sell the company's products and services within a specified region or territory. You will be responsible for attracting new clients, increase profitability, and win new accounts. Other duties typically include building and maintaining relationships with both new and existing customers, traveling across the region to visit customers, and maintaining records of customer accounts and sales leads. As an area sales representative, it is also your duty to close deals and negotiate service agreements, prices, and terms of sale.

What does an inside sales representative do?

An inside sales representative is responsible for selling services and products to clients, driving the company's revenues and increase sales profitability. Duties of an inside sales representative include developing strategic sales pitches, responding to customer's inquiries and requests, offering promotional products and discounts, researching potential clients, creating sales reports, and managing customer's possible complaints. An inside sales representative also provides strategic solutions to share with the sales team to improve their sales performance. Inside sales representatives must have excellent communication and negotiation skills to deal with customers' needs.

Area sales representative vs inside sales representative salary

Area sales representatives and inside sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Area Sales Representative	Inside Sales Representative
Average salary	$58,355	$44,413
Salary range	Between $42,000 And $80,000	Between $28,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	Syracuse, NY	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Maine	Wyoming
Best paying company	Microsoft	Berkshire Hathaway
Best paying industry	Finance	Technology

Differences between area sales representative and inside sales representative education

There are a few differences between an area sales representative and an inside sales representative in terms of educational background:

	Area Sales Representative	Inside Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 69%	Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Area sales representative vs inside sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between area sales representatives' and inside sales representatives' demographics:

	Area Sales Representative	Inside Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0%	Male, 54.7% Female, 45.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between area sales representative and inside sales representative duties and responsibilities

Area sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage and create all content distribute via various social media outlets: Facebook, twitter, feedback blogs, etc.
Create wholesale catalog using Powerpoint and PDF.
Add and update customer information in Seibel CRM application.
Schedule monthly sales, change POS, acquire extra sales/floor space.
Increase sales and product visibility by placing POS material and encouraging promotion participation within accounts.
Execute weekly on premise promotions and off-site special events that generate brand awareness, increase distribution and additional sales.

Inside sales representative example responsibilities.

Coordinate commercial sales and manage projects with HVAC contractors for Georgia district.
Accomplish tasks in a timely manner.Skills UsedComputer, math, reading wiring schematics.
Generate leads through the use of Linkedin, firm websites and legal magazines.
Manage and develop a nationwide territory through cold calling utilizing LinkedIn?, DiscoverOrg.
Manage help desk support for company ERP system as well as employee hardware and software issues.
Manage a team of 15-25 ISE's through effective sales coaching, call monitoring and creating sales spiff programs.

Area sales representative vs inside sales representative skills

Common area sales representative skills

Customer Service, 24%
Business Development, 17%
Sales Process, 15%
Customer Relations, 7%
Product Knowledge, 4%
Territory Sales, 3%

Common inside sales representative skills

Customer Service, 22%
CRM, 6%
Outbound Calls, 5%
Product Knowledge, 4%
Work Ethic, 4%
Sales Process, 3%

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Area Sales Representative
Area Sales Representative vs Inside Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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