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The differences between business representatives and distribution sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a business representative, becoming a distribution sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a business representative has an average salary of $51,604, which is higher than the $41,865 average annual salary of a distribution sales representative.
The top three skills for a business representative include customer service, patients and powerpoint. The most important skills for a distribution sales representative are product knowledge, territory sales, and customer accounts.
| Business Representative | Distribution Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $51,604 | $41,865 |
| Hourly rate | $24.81 | $20.13 |
| Growth rate | -4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 197,264 | 235,775 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 40 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 4 |
Typically working as a member of a company's sales team, a business representative offers products and services to customers through appointments or calls and correspondence, securing sales and customer satisfaction. Among their responsibilities include answering inquiries, processing payments, assisting clients in filling out forms, negotiating contracts, developing sales strategies, researching new business and client opportunities, and producing sales reports. Furthermore, as a business representative, it is essential to have a great understanding of the company's vision and mission, including its policies and regulations.
A distribution sales representative is a sales professional who usually works for wholesale and manufacturing companies, aiming to secure sales with retailers and individuals. Their duties entail conducting market research and analyses to find client and business opportunities, generating leads, communicating with clients through calls, arranging appointments, answering inquiries, discussing product or service specifications, and negotiating contracts, building positive relationships along the way. Moreover, as a distribution sales representative, keeping up with the latest trends to enhance sales pitches is essential.
Business representatives and distribution sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Representative | Distribution Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $51,604 | $41,865 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $73,000 | Between $25,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Marathon Oil | - |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between a business representative and a distribution sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Business Representative | Distribution Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between business representatives' and distribution sales representatives' demographics:
| Business Representative | Distribution Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 40 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5% | Male, 65.1% Female, 34.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 21.2% Asian, 6.8% White, 54.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 7% | 6% |