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The differences between distribution sales representatives and area 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 distribution sales representative and an area sales representative. Additionally, an area sales representative has an average salary of $58,355, which is higher than the $41,865 average annual salary of a distribution sales representative.
The top three skills for a distribution sales representative include product knowledge, territory sales and customer accounts. The most important skills for an area sales representative are customer service, business development, and sales process.
| Distribution Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $41,865 | $58,355 |
| Hourly rate | $20.13 | $28.06 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 235,775 | 199,212 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A distribution sales representative is a sales professional who usually works for wholesale and manufacturing companies, aiming to secure sales with retailers and individuals. Their duties entail conducting market research and analyses to find client and business opportunities, generating leads, communicating with clients through calls, arranging appointments, answering inquiries, discussing product or service specifications, and negotiating contracts, building positive relationships along the way. Moreover, as a distribution sales representative, keeping up with the latest trends to enhance sales pitches is essential.
The primary role of an area sales representative is to sell the company's products and services within a specified region or territory. You will be responsible for attracting new clients, increase profitability, and win new accounts. Other duties typically include building and maintaining relationships with both new and existing customers, traveling across the region to visit customers, and maintaining records of customer accounts and sales leads. As an area sales representative, it is also your duty to close deals and negotiate service agreements, prices, and terms of sale.
Distribution sales representatives and area sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Distribution Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $41,865 | $58,355 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $68,000 | Between $42,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Syracuse, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | Maine |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a distribution sales representative and an area sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Distribution Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between distribution sales representatives' and area sales representatives' demographics:
| Distribution Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.1% Female, 34.9% | Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0% |
| 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, 14.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |