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The differences between distribution sales managers and territory 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 territory sales manager. Additionally, a territory sales manager has an average salary of $74,356, which is higher than the $64,821 average annual salary of a distribution 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 territory sales manager are territory sales, customer service, and healthcare.
| Distribution Sales Manager | Territory Sales Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $64,821 | $74,356 |
| Hourly rate | $31.16 | $35.75 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 119,543 | 119,934 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 territory sales manager is an individual who supervises the daily sales operations of sales representatives that are assigned to a particular location. Territory sales managers are required to meet sales targets to gain an increase in revenues and must maintain excellent customer relationships. They attend trade shows to promote the products and services of the company at the same time, conduct surveys to better understand the needs of their customers. As they are engaged in sales, territory sales managers must possess a bachelor's degree in business administration or management.
Distribution sales managers and territory sales managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Distribution Sales Manager | Territory Sales Manager | |
| Average salary | $64,821 | $74,356 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $111,000 | Between $48,000 And $114,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Jose, CA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Accenture | Palo Alto Networks |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Retail |
There are a few differences between a distribution sales manager and a territory sales manager in terms of educational background:
| Distribution Sales Manager | Territory Sales Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| 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 territory sales managers' demographics:
| Distribution Sales Manager | Territory Sales Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.3% Female, 27.7% | Male, 75.0% Female, 25.0% |
| 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% |