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What is a channel sales representative and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Director Dave Payne M.S.

A typical channel sales representative has one primary duty: sell the products or services of a company. They do this by working with existing or new channel partners. A channel sales representative works under a sales director or manager to drive sales to the company.

A channel sales representative reviews a company's sales processes and carries out evaluations. Such evaluations are crucial to improve sales processes to improve the company's performance. A channel sales representative needs critical thinking skills, since developing sales strategies is one of their responsibilities.

Potential candidates for this position must learn to plan, organize, and implement sales strategies. Depending on the company, you may not need to have any prior experience to be employed as a sales channel representative.

What general advice would you give to a channel sales representative?

Director Dave Payne M.S.

Associate Professor of Practice / Sales, University of Akron

Planning, practice, and skills are the keys to a successful career launch. Practice and coaching feedback will build competence, which builds confidence and sales performance success.
ScoreChannel Sales RepresentativeUS Average
Salary
5.2

Avg. Salary $66,190

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.1

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 5.13%

Black or African American 3.82%

Hispanic or Latino 14.11%

Unknown 3.71%

White 73.00%

Gender

female 32.75%

male 67.25%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Channel sales representative career paths

Key steps to become a channel sales representative

  1. Explore channel sales representative education requirements

    Most common channel sales representative degrees

    Bachelor's

    74.3 %

    Master's

    9.4 %

    Associate

    8.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific channel sales representative skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Lead Generation28.23%
    Direct Sales22.27%
    Channel Sales19.09%
    Sales Cycle16.25%
    Sales REP2.60%
  3. Complete relevant channel sales representative training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New channel sales representatives learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a channel sales representative based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real channel sales representative resumes.
  4. Research channel sales representative duties and responsibilities

    • Adopt new CRM software to manage existing customers while providing training on update systems.
    • Generate leads and evangelize product to physicians in orthopedics, hematology, internal medicine, surgery, critical care and cardiology.
    • Maintain accurate up-to-date activity and opportunity reports in Microsoft CRM software.
    • Generate leads and evangelize product to physicians in orthopedics, hematology, internal medicine, surgery, critical care and cardiology.
  5. Prepare your channel sales representative resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your channel sales representative resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a channel sales representative resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable channel sales representative resume templates

    Build a professional channel sales representative resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your channel sales representative resume.
    Channel Sales Representative Resume
    Channel Sales Representative Resume
    Channel Sales Representative Resume
    Channel Sales Representative Resume
    Channel Sales Representative Resume
    Channel Sales Representative Resume
    Channel Sales Representative Resume
    Channel Sales Representative Resume
    Channel Sales Representative Resume
  6. Apply for channel sales representative jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a channel sales representative job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first channel sales representative job

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Average channel sales representative salary

The average channel sales representative salary in the United States is $66,190 per year or $32 per hour. Channel sales representative salaries range between $45,000 and $97,000 per year.

Average channel sales representative salary
$66,190 Yearly
$31.82 hourly

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How do channel sales representatives rate their job?

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Channel sales representative reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Marketing products from a traceable companies to consumers and providing a good service to the clients .


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019
Pros

The challenge to bring in new business and exceed monthly sales quota. To have the freedom to not be micromanage is reward enough. However the commissions and sales recognition make both rewarding and fun.

Cons

The stress that comes with having to produce. You have to find the business, present your solution, close the business and service the account.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.