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Distributor vs direct sales representative

The differences between distributors and direct 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 distributor and a direct sales representative. Additionally, a direct sales representative has an average salary of $43,527, which is higher than the $40,606 average annual salary of a distributor.

The top three skills for a distributor include distributors, customer service and delivery truck. The most important skills for a direct sales representative are customer service, direct sales, and TV.

Distributor vs direct sales representative overview

DistributorDirect Sales Representative
Yearly salary$40,606$43,527
Hourly rate$19.52$20.93
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs89,197159,668
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

Distributor vs direct sales representative salary

Distributors and direct sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

DistributorDirect Sales Representative
Average salary$40,606$43,527
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $52,000Between $27,000 And $69,000
Highest paying CityClifton, NJSalem, OR
Highest paying stateNew JerseyMaine
Best paying companyABBGoogle
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between distributor and direct sales representative education

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

DistributorDirect Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 45%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at AlfredSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Distributor vs direct sales representative demographics

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

DistributorDirect Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 56.3% Female, 43.7%Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%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%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between distributor and direct sales representative duties and responsibilities

Distributor example responsibilities.

  • Generate leads for outside sales representatives including organizing, monitoring and updating Microsoft CRM program.
  • Train in OSHA safety standards and maintain compliances.
  • Use an RF scanner to produce labels identifying repack case contents.
  • Use Facebook as a great social media outlet, as well as twitter.
  • Operate forklift and stand up forklift, used RF scanner guns to track items
  • Install new valves, water meters, taps for water meters, and fire hydrants.
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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.
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Distributor vs direct sales representative skills

Common distributor skills
  • Distributors, 28%
  • Customer Service, 23%
  • Delivery Truck, 7%
  • Customer Relations, 7%
  • Product Line, 4%
  • Wellness Products, 4%
Common direct sales representative skills
  • Customer Service, 33%
  • Direct Sales, 20%
  • TV, 15%
  • Work Ethic, 4%
  • Technical Troubleshooting, 3%
  • Door-To-Door Sales, 3%