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The differences between commercial sales specialists and inside sales associates 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 inside sales associate. Additionally, a commercial sales specialist has an average salary of $73,492, which is higher than the $40,687 average annual salary of an inside sales associate.
The top three skills for a commercial sales specialist include customer accounts, customer complaints and inventory control. The most important skills for an inside sales associate are inside sales, sales associates, and strong customer service.
| Commercial Sales Specialist | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $73,492 | $40,687 |
| Hourly rate | $35.33 | $19.56 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 124,771 | 320,863 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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.
An inside sales associate is responsible for selling the company's goods and services through remote communication. Inside sales associates make calls to potential customers, demonstrate the products' features, take orders, process payments, and inform the customers of the delivery details. They strategize the most effective sales pitches to attract the customers on purchasing more services that would generate revenues and increase the company's profitability and brand image. An inside sales associate also supports the marketing team in developing marketing campaigns and promotional offers depending on customer demands and requests.
Commercial sales specialists and inside sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Sales Specialist | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Average salary | $73,492 | $40,687 |
| Salary range | Between $48,000 And $112,000 | Between $30,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Washington |
| Best paying company | - | MSCI |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a commercial sales specialist and an inside sales associate in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Sales Specialist | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| 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 inside sales associates' demographics:
| Commercial Sales Specialist | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 77.1% Female, 22.9% | Male, 57.3% Female, 42.7% |
| 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, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |