Distributor vs outside sales representative

The differences between distributors and outside 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 an outside sales representative. Additionally, an outside sales representative has an average salary of $60,443, 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 representative are customer service, work ethic, and sales process.

Distributor vs outside sales representative overview

	Distributor	Outside Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$40,606	$60,443
Hourly rate	$19.52	$29.06
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	89,197	218,034
Job satisfaction	-	4.5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

Distributor vs outside sales representative salary

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

	Distributor	Outside Sales Representative
Average salary	$40,606	$60,443
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $52,000	Between $41,000 And $87,000
Highest paying City	Clifton, NJ	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	New Jersey	New Jersey
Best paying company	ABB	Microsoft
Best paying industry	Health Care	Manufacturing

Differences between distributor and outside sales representative education

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

	Distributor	Outside Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Distributor vs outside sales representative demographics

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

	Distributor	Outside Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 56.3% Female, 43.7%	Male, 71.5% Female, 28.5%
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, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between distributor and outside 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.

Outside sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage and maintain a weekly quota for broadband, and other wireless products.
Utilize CRM database to manage and track prospect interaction to ensure accurate documentation of window requirements and ongoing communication.
Web dev, SEO, PPC etc . )
Participate in the launching and marketing of broadband internet in Orlando with great success.
Provide care, materials, and essential tools for doctors and nurses working on patients in the E.R.
Create and maintain successful business partnerships with customers by analyzing, meeting and understanding their needs and patients needs.

Distributor vs outside sales representative skills

Common distributor skills

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

Common outside sales representative skills

Customer Service, 17%
Work Ethic, 8%
Sales Process, 4%
Business Sales, 4%
Cold Calls, 4%
Product Knowledge, 4%

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Distributor
Distributor vs Outside Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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