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The differences between distribution sales managers and route sales managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a distribution sales manager and a route sales manager. Additionally, a distribution sales manager has an average salary of $64,821, which is higher than the $48,830 average annual salary of a route sales manager.
The top three skills for a distribution sales manager include customer service, customer complaints and sales people. The most important skills for a route sales manager are food service, sales territory, and sales route.
| Distribution Sales Manager | Route Sales Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $64,821 | $48,830 |
| Hourly rate | $31.16 | $23.48 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 119,543 | 112,342 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
A distribution sales manager is tasked to find whole and retail sellers to distribute goods and services. Alongside distribution, the manager's tasks include monitoring all sales, orders, product performance, and retailer feedback to further improve the product. The distribution manager must also have skills in email marketing, B2B correspondence, engage with potential clients and customers, and ensuring all orders are fulfilled on time and without delays.
A route sales manager is responsible for monitoring the performance of the sales staff within their designated areas, ensuring the adherence to sales goals and objectives efficiently, and providing the highest satisfaction to the customers. Route sales managers develop strategic procedures for marketing campaigns, identifying business opportunities to generate more revenue resources, and increase the company's profitability. They also conduct sales training and programs for the staff to maximize productivity and enhance their sales skills. A route sales manager analyzes sales reports and evaluates customers' needs by studying market trends.
Distribution sales managers and route sales managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Distribution Sales Manager | Route Sales Manager | |
| Average salary | $64,821 | $48,830 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $111,000 | Between $42,000 And $56,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | - |
| Best paying company | Accenture | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a distribution sales manager and a route sales manager in terms of educational background:
| Distribution Sales Manager | Route Sales Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between distribution sales managers' and route sales managers' demographics:
| Distribution Sales Manager | Route Sales Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.3% Female, 27.7% | Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |