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Field sales representative vs associate sales representative

The differences between field sales representatives and associate 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 field sales representative and an associate sales representative. Additionally, an associate sales representative has an average salary of $51,007, which is higher than the $48,460 average annual salary of a field sales representative.

The top three skills for a field sales representative include excellent time management, customer service and powerpoint. The most important skills for an associate sales representative are work ethic, patients, and product knowledge.

Field sales representative vs associate sales representative overview

Field Sales RepresentativeAssociate Sales Representative
Yearly salary$48,460$51,007
Hourly rate$23.30$24.52
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs228,254333,049
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

What does a field sales representative do?

A field sales representative is an employee who is employed by business-to-business (B2B) and wholesale organizations to visit leads and sell products or services to their customers in person. Field sales representatives must attract new customers and win new accounts so that they can maximize profitability within their territory. They travel around their assigned territory and visit their customers regularly to educate them on how their products can benefit them. Field sales representatives must also maintain records of all sales leads and monitor the organization's competitor, new products, and market conditions.

What does an associate sales representative do?

The duties of an associate sales representative depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Their responsibilities typically revolve around reaching out to clients through calls or door-to-door visits, offering products and services, collecting payments, addressing issues and concerns, and performing corrective measures when necessary. An associate sales representative often has a quota and deadline to reach; therefore, it is essential to be sales driven and goal-oriented. Furthermore, one must adhere to the policies and regulations of the company.

Field sales representative vs associate sales representative salary

Field sales representatives and associate sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Field Sales RepresentativeAssociate Sales Representative
Average salary$48,460$51,007
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $88,000Between $37,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WABoston, MA
Highest paying stateWashingtonMassachusetts
Best paying companyVMwareVerint
Best paying industryTechnologyHealth Care

Differences between field sales representative and associate sales representative education

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

Field Sales RepresentativeAssociate Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at AlfredSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Field sales representative vs associate sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between field sales representatives' and associate sales representatives' demographics:

Field Sales RepresentativeAssociate Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 69.5% Female, 30.5%Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.5% 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 field sales representative and associate sales representative duties and responsibilities

Field sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Train and manage new DSR's.
  • Lead seminars for the CPA community for CPE credits.
  • Develop and manage sales in major retail accounts in the Mid-Atlantic region.
  • Manage and assist a vast customer base in the market for new roofing needs after a large hail storm in Lubbock.
  • Manage merchandising and POS materials at the retail store level ensuring meticulous compliance with all current corporate initiative regulations.
  • Conduct effective group Medicare HMO/PPO presentations/seminars, as well as one-on-one field sales presentations.
  • Show more

Associate sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage organization website and Facebook page; writing articles for websites and newsletters.
  • Perform inside sales, including telemarketing, prospecting, account penetration and product application, consulting and delivery of customer service.
  • Learned how to ask proper questions and communicate MetLife's product differentiators against competition

Field sales representative vs associate sales representative skills

Common field sales representative skills
  • Excellent Time Management, 17%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • PowerPoint, 6%
  • Medicare, 6%
  • Account Management, 6%
  • Sales Presentations, 5%
Common associate sales representative skills
  • Work Ethic, 16%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Product Knowledge, 12%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 7%
  • Excellent Organizational, 4%
  • Sales Techniques, 4%