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The differences between direct sales agents and inside sales associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a direct sales agent, becoming an inside sales associate takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a direct sales agent has an average salary of $57,712, which is higher than the $40,687 average annual salary of an inside sales associate.
The top three skills for a direct sales agent include customer service, medicare and health insurance. The most important skills for an inside sales associate are inside sales, sales associates, and strong customer service.
| Direct Sales Agent | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $57,712 | $40,687 |
| Hourly rate | $27.75 | $19.56 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 225,552 | 320,863 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A direct sales agent is primarily responsible for introducing and selling products or services to clients in a particular area. Aiming to reach sales quotas, they typically conduct market research and analysis, generate leads, and develop sales strategies to build positive client relationships. They reach out directly to clients through calls or face-to-face interactions, discuss product specifications or promos, negotiate contracts, and demonstrate products when necessary. They are also responsible for processing client orders and payments, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction.
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.
Direct sales agents and inside sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Direct Sales Agent | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Average salary | $57,712 | $40,687 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $107,000 | Between $30,000 And $54,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | TechnipFMC | MSCI |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a direct sales agent and an inside sales associate in terms of educational background:
| Direct Sales Agent | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between direct sales agents' and inside sales associates' demographics:
| Direct Sales Agent | Inside Sales Associate | |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.0% Female, 42.0% | Male, 57.3% Female, 42.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 9.3% White, 68.2% 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% |