Direct sales representative vs outbound sales representative

The differences between direct sales representatives and outbound 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 direct sales representative and an outbound sales representative. Additionally, an outbound sales representative has an average salary of $45,723, which is higher than the $43,527 average annual salary of a direct sales representative.

The top three skills for a direct sales representative include customer service, direct sales and TV. The most important skills for an outbound sales representative are outbound sales, customer service, and excellent interpersonal.

Direct sales representative vs outbound sales representative overview

	Direct Sales Representative	Outbound Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$43,527	$45,723
Hourly rate	$20.93	$21.98
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	159,668	240,781
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	High School Diploma, 33%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

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 an outbound sales representative do?

An outbound sales representative focuses on securing sales by reaching out to clients through calls, correspondence, or face-to-face interactions. They primarily offer products and services, assisting customers every step of the way to ensure client satisfaction. To carry out their duties, they must perform research and analysis to identify business opportunities, develop sales strategies, generate leads, discuss product specifications with customers, introduce payment plans, and negotiate contracts. Moreover, an outbound sales representative must build positive relationships with clients while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

Direct sales representative vs outbound sales representative salary

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

	Direct Sales Representative	Outbound Sales Representative
Average salary	$43,527	$45,723
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $69,000	Between $24,000 And $84,000
Highest paying City	Salem, OR	Hoboken, NJ
Highest paying state	Maine	New Jersey
Best paying company	Google	Altice USA
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between direct sales representative and outbound sales representative education

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

	Direct Sales Representative	Outbound Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	High School Diploma, 33%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Direct sales representative vs outbound sales representative demographics

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

	Direct Sales Representative	Outbound Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%	Male, 45.9% Female, 54.1%
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, 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%

Differences between direct sales representative and outbound 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.

Outbound sales representative example responsibilities.

Contact medicare eligible recipients to sell medicare advantage plans through in-home meetings, community seminars and direct telesales.
Build rapport while selling customers solar panels, porches, and double glaze windows.
Assist customers with there questions and concerns, telemarketing, distribute flyers within neighborhood.
Require multitasking, responding appropriately to customer questions and concerns, and negotiating sales for additional products and services.
Educate customers and are experts in all TWC products, services and packages along with competitor's offerings.
Serve as expert and educator to customers on all TWC products, services and packages along with competitor's offerings.

Direct sales representative vs outbound 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 outbound sales representative skills

Outbound Sales, 25%
Customer Service, 11%
Excellent Interpersonal, 9%
Excellent Organizational, 8%
CRM, 7%
Inbound Calls, 5%

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Direct Sales Representative
Direct Sales Representative vs Outbound Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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