Distribution sales representative vs executive sales representative

The differences between distribution sales representatives and executive sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a distribution sales representative, becoming an executive sales representative takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an executive sales representative has an average salary of $78,858, 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 executive sales representative are patients, product knowledge, and oncology.

Distribution sales representative vs executive sales representative overview

	Distribution Sales Representative	Executive Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$41,865	$78,858
Hourly rate	$20.13	$37.91
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	235,775	226,902
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	2

What does a distribution sales representative do?

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.

What does an executive sales representative do?

An executive sales representative researches and recommends business opportunities. They analyze sales alternatives and help build business relations with clients and prospects. They must keep updated on business trends and potential competitors to best recommend new product ideas. They must be open-minded, risk-takers, adaptive, and innovative to be able to develop successful marketing strategies. It is also necessary for them to be highly skilled at business analysis to distinguish selling opportunities and create an immediate action plan.

Distribution sales representative vs executive sales representative salary

Distribution sales representatives and executive sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Distribution Sales Representative	Executive Sales Representative
Average salary	$41,865	$78,858
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $68,000	Between $48,000 And $128,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between distribution sales representative and executive sales representative education

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

	Distribution Sales Representative	Executive Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 79%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	University of Pennsylvania

Distribution sales representative vs executive sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between distribution sales representatives' and executive sales representatives' demographics:

	Distribution Sales Representative	Executive Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 65.1% Female, 34.9%	Male, 53.7% Female, 46.3%
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%

Differences between distribution sales representative and executive sales representative duties and responsibilities

Distribution sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage merchandising and POS materials at the retail store level ensuring meticulous compliance with all current corporate initiative regulations.
Provide power design solutions to OEM 's
Excel in responsive customer support; personally responsible for worldwide international service centers and primary aircraft OEM accounts.
Develop and implement marketing programs for distributors and retailers, including co-op advertising plans, promotional events, and merchandising techniques.
Install and maintain software, hardware and networking and troubleshoot computer systems for problems ranging from software incompatibilities to electrical problems.

Executive sales representative example responsibilities.

Position products above the competition, utilizing data, manage care information and patient benefit to promote the Novartis brands.
Achieve sales growth objectives by incorporating product/technical knowledge, teamwork, customer and multi-product focus, innovation and creativity.
Call on customers in oncology, pulmonology urology, cardiology, neurology, OB/GYN, psychiatry, gastroenterology and primary care.
Promote diabetes medications to family practice, general practice, internal medicine physicians and diabetic educators.
Track and create territory reports and spreadsheets with action items and a pod business plan.
Target specialty sales to neurology, psychiatry, pain management and high target primary care physicians.

Distribution sales representative vs executive sales representative skills

Common distribution sales representative skills

Product Knowledge, 30%
Territory Sales, 12%
Customer Accounts, 6%
Sales Presentations, 5%
Business Development, 4%
Medical Sales, 4%

Common executive sales representative skills

Patients, 10%
Product Knowledge, 10%
Oncology, 8%
Account Management, 7%
Territory Management, 7%
Customer Satisfaction, 6%

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Distribution Sales Representative
Distribution Sales Representative vs Executive Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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