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The differences between commercial sales specialists and associate 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 commercial sales specialist and an associate sales representative. Additionally, a commercial sales specialist has an average salary of $73,492, which is higher than the $51,007 average annual salary of an associate sales representative.
The top three skills for a commercial sales specialist include customer accounts, customer complaints and inventory control. The most important skills for an associate sales representative are work ethic, patients, and product knowledge.
| Commercial Sales Specialist | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $73,492 | $51,007 |
| Hourly rate | $35.33 | $24.52 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 124,771 | 333,049 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A commercial sales specialist is responsible for selling the company's goods and services to corporate organizations and identifying business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase profits for the company. Commercial sales specialists determine the customers' needs and recommend product solutions by discussing and demonstrating product features and benefits, responding to their inquiries and concerns, and resolving complaints. They also work closely with the marketing team to enhance promotional efforts and media strategies to improve brand recognition in the market.
The duties of an associate sales representative depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Their responsibilities typically revolve around reaching out to clients through calls or door-to-door visits, offering products and services, collecting payments, addressing issues and concerns, and performing corrective measures when necessary. An associate sales representative often has a quota and deadline to reach; therefore, it is essential to be sales driven and goal-oriented. Furthermore, one must adhere to the policies and regulations of the company.
Commercial sales specialists and associate sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Sales Specialist | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $73,492 | $51,007 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $112,000 | Between $37,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | Verint |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a commercial sales specialist and an associate sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Sales Specialist | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| 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 commercial sales specialists' and associate sales representatives' demographics:
| Commercial Sales Specialist | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.1% Female, 22.9% | Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2% |
| 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% |