Direct sales representative vs sales support representative

The differences between direct sales representatives and sales support 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 a sales support representative. Additionally, a direct sales representative has an average salary of $43,527, which is higher than the $38,310 average annual salary of a sales support representative.

The top three skills for a direct sales representative include customer service, direct sales and TV. The most important skills for a sales support representative are sales support, phone calls, and POS.

Direct sales representative vs sales support representative overview

	Direct Sales Representative	Sales Support Representative
Yearly salary	$43,527	$38,310
Hourly rate	$20.93	$18.42
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	159,668	319,292
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
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 a sales support representative do?

A sales support representative is responsible for assisting the complex operations of sales departments, performing administrative duties under the supervision of a direct manager. Sales support representatives' tasks include acknowledging and encoding customers' orders in the system, processing payments, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns about the products, writing sales reports, and updating the customer of the shipment details. They also support the sales representatives on selling goods and services to potential customers by creating marketing materials and communicating with customers over the phone and e-mail to generate revenues and increase profits.

Direct sales representative vs sales support representative salary

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

	Direct Sales Representative	Sales Support Representative
Average salary	$43,527	$38,310
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $69,000	Between $30,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	Salem, OR	Seattle, WA
Highest paying state	Maine	Washington
Best paying company	Google	NetApp
Best paying industry	-	Finance

Differences between direct sales representative and sales support representative education

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

	Direct Sales Representative	Sales Support Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Direct sales representative vs sales support representative demographics

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

	Direct Sales Representative	Sales Support Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%	Male, 39.9% Female, 60.1%
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, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between direct sales representative and sales support 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.

Sales support representative example responsibilities.

Manage internal CRM and inventory software to track and input sales orders, account history, and stock allocation.
Facilitate the transition from AS400 to JDE operating system.
Utilize all programs, systems, and procedures of windows operating systems.
Help customers troubleshoot technical issues with their computers, process customer transactions and handle escalate issues.
Assist in setting up and checking EDI data from customers, brokers, carriers, and truckers.
Work collaboratively with sales representatives and regional vice presidents to produce cost proposals, problem solve and troubleshoot issues.

Direct sales representative vs sales support 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 sales support representative skills

Sales Support, 16%
Phone Calls, 10%
POS, 8%
Product Knowledge, 7%
Customer Complaints, 6%
Customer Inquiries, 6%

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Direct Sales Representative
Direct Sales Representative vs Sales Support Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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