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How to hire an area sales representative

Area sales representative hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring area sales representatives in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire an area sales representative is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per area sales representative on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 892,662 area sales representatives in the US and 199,212 job openings.
  • Secaucus, NJ, has the highest demand for area sales representatives, with 8 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of area sales representatives.

How to hire an area sales representative, step by step

To hire an area sales representative, you need to identify the specific skills and experience you want in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and advertise the job opening to attract potential candidates. To hire an area sales representative, you should follow these steps:

Here's a step-by-step area sales representative hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write an area sales representative job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new area sales representative
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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.

Learn more about the specifics of what an area sales representative does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the area sales representative you need to hire. Certain area sales representative roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an area sales representative to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an area sales representative that fits the bill.

    Here's a comparison of area sales representative salaries for various roles:

    Type of Area Sales RepresentativeDescriptionHourly rate
    Area Sales RepresentativeWholesale and manufacturing sales representatives sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. They contact customers, explain product features, answer any questions that their customers may have, and negotiate prices.$20-38
    Sales Representative And Account ManagerA sales representative/account manager is responsible for supervising client portfolio accounts and maintaining long-lasting relationships with business partners. Sales representatives/account managers meet with existing and potential clients to discuss new services offered by the company, as well as addressing their requests for review... Show more$19-50
    Territory RepresentativeA territory representative is responsible for selling the company's goods and services within a designated area, negotiating offers with potential clients, and identifying business opportunities according to market trends and customer demands. Territory representatives analyze the sales performance and strategize techniques to reach sales targets by coordinating with the whole sales team... Show more$14-24
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Business Development
    • Sales Process
    • Customer Relations
    • Product Knowledge
    • Territory Sales
    • Excellent Interpersonal
    • CRM
    • Sales Presentations
    • PET
    • PowerPoint
    • Sales Growth
    • Medical Sales
    • Trade Shows
    Check all skills
    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.
    More area sales representative duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your area sales representative job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An area sales representative salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for an area sales representative in Delaware may be lower than in Maine, and an entry-level area sales representative usually earns less than a senior-level area sales representative. Additionally, an area sales representative with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average area sales representative salary

    $58,355yearly

    $28.06 hourly rate

    Entry-level area sales representative salary
    $42,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 19, 2025

    Average area sales representative salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$72,161$35
    2Massachusetts$68,410$33
    3Utah$65,455$31
    4Pennsylvania$63,725$31
    5California$63,712$31
    6Washington$63,303$30
    7Oregon$62,725$30
    8Colorado$61,954$30
    9Kansas$61,752$30
    10Illinois$61,351$30
    11Michigan$60,965$29
    12New Jersey$60,889$29
    13Montana$60,212$29
    14North Carolina$60,095$29
    15Ohio$59,603$29
    16Texas$59,503$29
    17Missouri$59,408$29
    18Arizona$58,157$28
    19South Carolina$57,721$28
    20District of Columbia$57,627$28

    Average area sales representative salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Microsoft$121,146$58.244
    2Bath & Body Works$104,338$50.16
    3Hayden Beverage$84,339$40.55
    4Mohawk Industries$82,493$39.6658
    5Rent-A-Center$82,447$39.643
    6Acima$79,867$38.403
    7Empire Distributors$79,625$38.2811
    8P.L. Marketing$77,047$37.04
    9Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions LLC$75,027$36.0742
    10Ridgewood Savings Bank$74,754$35.941
    11DistributionNOW$74,698$35.9117
    12RevLocal$72,910$35.05
    13Spindrift$72,882$35.0428
    14Restoration Builders$72,363$34.793
    15Cargotec Holding Inc$72,271$34.75
    16Aesthetic Medical Assoc$71,919$34.58
    17Meridian Waste$71,781$34.5118
    18Daltile$70,512$33.9037
    19Stryker$70,097$33.70969
    20D.R. Horton$67,959$32.67316
  4. Writing an area sales representative job description

    A good area sales representative job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an area sales representative job description:

    Area sales representative job description example

    GET TO KNOW ALORICA At Alorica, we only do one thing – make lives better, one interaction at a time. We’re a global leader in customer service and collections, serving the world’s biggest brands with tens of thousands of employees in hundreds of locations around the globe. JOB SUMMARY Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to provide collections/receivables management phone support for one or more clients at our contact center facility. In this role, you will be assisting customers with making outstanding payments for clients. You’ll be acting as a consultant to the customer, empathizing with their situation, encouraging and educating them, and offering assistance and payment options.A strong relationship between our clients and their customers starts with you – so only the awesome need apply! KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
    • Handles various incoming and outgoing collections-focused phone calls
    • Resolves customer questions, complaints and collections inquiries in a professional, helpful manner
    • Connects with existing and potential customers and aims to resolve inquiries related to receivables management
    • Utilizes computer system to verify and document customer requests
    • Talks to customers over the phone to resolve their questions or concerns
    • Maintains and updates customer information as necessary
    • Calmly attempts to resolve and de-escalate any issues
    • Escalates calls to supervisor when necessary and appropriate
    WHY JOIN ALORICA? Every day, we aim to live up to our mission of creating insanely great customer experiences. But as Alorica employees, giving back matters just as much – that’s why we’re so proud of Making Lives Better with Alorica , a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing assistance to employees, their families and the people, organizations and communities who support them. Simply put, we want to make lives better…one interaction at a time. And to do that, we need the very best people to join us. But please, allow us to entice you further! As an Alorica employee, you may receive:
    • Paid training
    • Flexible training schedules
    • Medical and dental benefits
    • Paid time off
    • Paid holiday
    • Retirement planning options (401(k))
    • Employee discounts through client programs
    Working at Alorica means potentially having the freedom to explore all kinds of career options – from customer service, collections, training, and tech support, to management, recruiting and more. Alorica offers fun, challenging opportunities to pursue your professional goals, and we want you to have fun and succeed – because when you’re at your best, that’s when we’re at our best. So what do you say? Ready to take the next step?

    By submitting your interest in this job, you agree to receive text notifications with additional steps to complete your job application. You will receive up to 6 messages from the number "63879". Message & data rates may apply. Please refer to our privacy policy for more information.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find area sales representatives for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your area sales representative job on Zippia to find and recruit area sales representative candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with area sales representative candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new area sales representative

    Once you have selected a candidate for the area sales representative position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire an area sales representative?

Before you start to hire area sales representatives, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire area sales representatives pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

Area sales representatives earn a median yearly salary is $58,355 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find area sales representatives for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $20 and $38.

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