Direct sales representative vs customer sales representative

The differences between direct sales representatives and customer sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a direct sales representative, becoming a customer sales representative takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a direct sales representative has an average salary of $43,527, which is higher than the $38,744 average annual salary of a customer sales representative.

The top three skills for a direct sales representative include customer service, direct sales and TV. The most important skills for a customer sales representative are customer service, product knowledge, and customer sales.

Direct sales representative vs customer sales representative overview

	Direct Sales Representative	Customer Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$43,527	$38,744
Hourly rate	$20.93	$18.63
Growth rate	4%	-4%
Number of jobs	159,668	303,801
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Average age	47	40
Years of experience	4	12

What does a direct sales representative do?

As a direct sales representative, you are responsible for creating customer awareness of a company's products and services and closing sales. You will perform varied tasks that include assisting in developing and executing marketing and sales plans, conducting research on competing products, and identifying opportunities to improve sales. Additionally, you are expected to answer inquiries about product features, availability, benefits, and pricing. Other tasks that you are likely to perform include attending trade shows, preparing sales proposals for prospective buyers, and preparing sales reports.

What does a customer sales representative do?

The primary role of customer service representatives is to help customers with questions and complaints. It is also their duties and responsibilities to provide customers with information about services and products, take and process orders, and process returns and modifications. They also store records of customer transactions and interactions and provide feedback on customer service efficacy. Customer service representatives must also ensure that they can give customer satisfaction and offer the best professional support.

Direct sales representative vs customer sales representative salary

Direct sales representatives and customer sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Direct Sales Representative	Customer Sales Representative
Average salary	$43,527	$38,744
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $69,000	Between $27,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City	Salem, OR	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	Maine	Hawaii
Best paying company	Google	Merck
Best paying industry	-	Finance

Differences between direct sales representative and customer sales representative education

There are a few differences between a direct sales representative and a customer sales representative in terms of educational background:

	Direct Sales Representative	Customer Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	-

Direct sales representative vs customer sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between direct sales representatives' and customer sales representatives' demographics:

	Direct Sales Representative	Customer Sales Representative
Average age	47	40
Gender ratio	Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%	Male, 44.9% Female, 55.1%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 24.4% Asian, 6.8% White, 52.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	7%

Differences between direct sales representative and customer sales representative duties and responsibilities

Direct sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage accounts and create invoices via QuickBooks.
Achieve and maintain high-volume sales output, for cell phones and broadband products to stay employ with company.
Contact medicare eligible recipients to sell medicare advantage plans through in-home meetings, community seminars and direct telesales.
Canvass assigned sales territory and solicit orders for new or upgrade cable, broadband and digital phone services.
Generate revenue by selling and upselling services while developing client base throughout territory.
Prospect and generate sales revenue by adding new program residential customers and cross selling and upselling current residential customers.

Customer sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage call center productivity levels by maintaining CSR schedule adherence.
Help customers if internet are running slow, if phone are not working, and also help to troubleshoot with them.
Practice good housekeeping methods and overall cleanliness.
Maintain cleanliness and organization of inventory within the assigned department.
Require to troubleshoot products and instruct customers on their proper use/warranty/options.
Work closely with sales director on scheduling, motivation of representations and setting up promotional events.

Direct sales representative vs customer sales representative skills

Common direct sales representative skills

Customer Service, 33%
Direct Sales, 20%
TV, 15%
Work Ethic, 4%
Technical Troubleshooting, 3%
Door-To-Door Sales, 3%

Common customer sales representative skills

Customer Service, 19%
Product Knowledge, 13%
Customer Sales, 9%
Cleanliness, 8%
Excellent Interpersonal, 6%
Social Media Marketing, 5%

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Direct Sales Representative
Direct Sales Representative vs Customer Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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