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Field technical representative vs direct sales representative

The differences between field technical representatives and direct sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a field technical representative, becoming a direct sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a field technical representative has an average salary of $52,665, which is higher than the $43,527 average annual salary of a direct sales representative.

The top three skills for a field technical representative include customer service, technical support and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for a direct sales representative are customer service, direct sales, and TV.

Field technical representative vs direct sales representative overview

Field Technical RepresentativeDirect Sales Representative
Yearly salary$52,665$43,527
Hourly rate$25.32$20.93
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs200,868159,668
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4747
Years of experience24

What does a field technical representative do?

Owning wide knowledge about an application, a field technical representative ensures that the customer knows how to use any application by providing technical support and solving issues if one arises. They also give advice on what application is best to use for a certain concern. They can also evaluate and give an honest review to further improve the application. They help companies install the application and apply every bit of enhancements incorporated in it to the best of their advantage.

What does a direct sales representative do?

As a direct sales representative, you are responsible for creating customer awareness of a company's products and services and closing sales. You will perform varied tasks that include assisting in developing and executing marketing and sales plans, conducting research on competing products, and identifying opportunities to improve sales. Additionally, you are expected to answer inquiries about product features, availability, benefits, and pricing. Other tasks that you are likely to perform include attending trade shows, preparing sales proposals for prospective buyers, and preparing sales reports.

Field technical representative vs direct sales representative salary

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

Field Technical RepresentativeDirect Sales Representative
Average salary$52,665$43,527
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $77,000Between $27,000 And $69,000
Highest paying CityBattle Creek, MISalem, OR
Highest paying stateMarylandMaine
Best paying companyMSC SoftwareGoogle
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between field technical representative and direct sales representative education

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

Field Technical RepresentativeDirect Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Field technical representative vs direct sales representative demographics

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

Field Technical RepresentativeDirect Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 75.3% Female, 24.7%Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.1% 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 technical representative and direct sales representative duties and responsibilities

Field technical representative example responsibilities.

  • Serve as a SME and the main point of contact when agents and other leads have questions.
  • Update systems with new application and OS version.
  • Write, implement, and maintain SQL queries and reports.
  • Attend advanced training courses for PC OS and hardware troubleshooting.
  • Maintain the SQL database, track updates per version of server, and replace system files.
  • Handle a large volume of tech support issue via remote desktop and phone calls and performance of administrative functions.
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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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Field technical representative vs direct sales representative skills

Common field technical representative skills
  • Customer Service, 20%
  • Technical Support, 19%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 9%
  • Product Knowledge, 6%
  • Technical Issues, 4%
  • Cooling Towers, 3%
Common direct sales representative skills
  • Customer Service, 33%
  • Direct Sales, 20%
  • TV, 15%
  • Work Ethic, 4%
  • Technical Troubleshooting, 3%
  • Door-To-Door Sales, 3%