Distributor vs outside sales

The differences between distributors and outside sales 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 an outside sales. Additionally, an outside sales has an average salary of $77,292, 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 an outside sales are customer service, product knowledge, and ongoing support.

Distributor vs outside sales overview

	Distributor	Outside Sales
Yearly salary	$40,606	$77,292
Hourly rate	$19.52	$37.16
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	89,197	333,400
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

Distributor vs outside sales salary

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

	Distributor	Outside Sales
Average salary	$40,606	$77,292
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $52,000	Between $56,000 And $104,000
Highest paying City	Clifton, NJ	Arlington, VA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New Hampshire
Best paying company	ABB	Morgan Stanley
Best paying industry	Health Care	Manufacturing

Differences between distributor and outside sales education

There are a few differences between a distributor and an outside sales in terms of educational background:

	Distributor	Outside Sales
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Distributor vs outside sales demographics

Here are the differences between distributors' and outside sales' demographics:

	Distributor	Outside Sales
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 56.3% Female, 43.7%	Male, 78.3% Female, 21.7%
Race ratio	Black 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, 14.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between distributor and outside sales 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.

Outside sales example responsibilities.

Plan logistical outside sales route, planned/schedule sales calls with web-base CRM program, manage various sales cycles.
Manage and create all content distribute via various social media outlets: Facebook, twitter, feedback blogs, etc.
Perfect the craft of upselling customers.
Prepare material estimates/bids for houses, windows, doors, trusses, etc.
Increase existing customer base and generate new dealer and customer relationships within the HVAC equipment and sales.
Estimate, price, bid and follow up to all mechanical HVAC and plumbing plan and spec projects.

Distributor vs outside sales skills

Common distributor skills

Distributors, 28%
Customer Service, 23%
Delivery Truck, 7%
Customer Relations, 7%
Product Line, 4%
Wellness Products, 4%

Common outside sales skills

Customer Service, 30%
Product Knowledge, 9%
Ongoing Support, 4%
Work Ethic, 4%
CRM, 4%
Flyers, 4%

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Distributor
Distributor vs Outside Sales

Updated January 8, 2025

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