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The differences between b2b sales representatives and direct 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 a b2b sales representatives and a direct sales representative. Additionally, a b2b sales representatives has an average salary of $65,833, which is higher than the $43,527 average annual salary of a direct sales representative.
The top three skills for a b2b sales representatives include customer service, CRM and powerpoint. The most important skills for a direct sales representative are customer service, direct sales, and TV.
| B2B Sales Representatives | Direct Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $65,833 | $43,527 |
| Hourly rate | $31.65 | $20.93 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 198,093 | 159,668 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Business-to-business (B2B) sales representatives are in charge of pursuing and securing sales with businesses. Their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis to generate leads, devising strategies in reaching out to clients and identifying their needs, developing business plans, and negotiating contract terms. Moreover, B2B sales representatives may perform calls and correspondence, arrange appointments or meetings, and offer products or services in adherence to the company's policies and regulations, including its vision and mission.
As a direct sales representative, you are responsible for creating customer awareness of a company's products and services and closing sales. You will perform varied tasks that include assisting in developing and executing marketing and sales plans, conducting research on competing products, and identifying opportunities to improve sales. Additionally, you are expected to answer inquiries about product features, availability, benefits, and pricing. Other tasks that you are likely to perform include attending trade shows, preparing sales proposals for prospective buyers, and preparing sales reports.
B2b sales representatives and direct sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| B2B Sales Representatives | Direct Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $65,833 | $43,527 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $89,000 | Between $27,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Las Vegas, NV | Salem, OR |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Maine |
| Best paying company | City National Bank | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | - |
There are a few differences between a b2b sales representatives and a direct sales representative in terms of educational background:
| B2B Sales Representatives | Direct Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between b2b sales representatives' and direct sales representatives' demographics:
| B2B Sales Representatives | Direct Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.8% Female, 32.2% | Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |