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The differences between business development specialists and business development representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a business development specialist has an average salary of $57,410, which is higher than the $47,240 average annual salary of a business development representative.
The top three skills for a business development specialist include work ethic, CRM and customer service. The most important skills for a business development representative are business development, work ethic, and customer service.
| Business Development Specialist | Business Development Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $57,410 | $47,240 |
| Hourly rate | $27.60 | $22.71 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 182,116 | 269,704 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A business development specialist is an expert who determines opportunities for marketing strategy optimization and business growth. The specialists perform business process and financial analysis, effective network creation, and business plan implementation. Being a good business development specialist requires knowledge and experience in managing a business. The skillset for the position includes a strong command in English, information technology, attention to detail, and written and verbal communication.
A business development representative's role is to find new business and client opportunities through market research and networking. They are primarily responsible for participating in creating strategies to enhance client relations, improve sales, and reach out to potential clients through calls, correspondence, and meetings. Moreover, it is also their responsibility to perform follow-up calls, offer recommendations, and even build rapport to strengthen client base. As a representative, it is essential to coordinate with managers and supervisors and adhere to policies and regulations.
Business development specialists and business development representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Development Specialist | Business Development Representative | |
| Average salary | $57,410 | $47,240 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $85,000 | Between $26,000 And $82,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jersey City, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Wisconsin | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Corsair | Wipro Limited |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a business development specialist and a business development representative in terms of educational background:
| Business Development Specialist | Business Development Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between business development specialists' and business development representatives' demographics:
| Business Development Specialist | Business Development Representative | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.7% Female, 49.3% | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.6% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 5% |