General merchandise sales representative vs outside sales representative

The differences between general merchandise sales representatives 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 general merchandise sales representative and an outside sales representative. Additionally, an outside sales representative has an average salary of $60,443, which is higher than the $56,221 average annual salary of a general merchandise sales representative.

The top three skills for a general merchandise sales representative include delivery schedules, customer service and sales floor. The most important skills for an outside sales representative are customer service, work ethic, and sales process.

General merchandise sales representative vs outside sales representative overview

	General Merchandise Sales Representative	Outside Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$56,221	$60,443
Hourly rate	$27.03	$29.06
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	126,832	218,034
Job satisfaction	-	4.5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

General merchandise sales representative vs outside sales representative salary

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

	General Merchandise Sales Representative	Outside Sales Representative
Average salary	$56,221	$60,443
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $96,000	Between $41,000 And $87,000
Highest paying City	-	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	Microsoft
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between general merchandise sales representative and outside sales representative education

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

	General Merchandise Sales Representative	Outside Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

General merchandise sales representative vs outside sales representative demographics

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

	General Merchandise Sales Representative	Outside Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 55.9% Female, 44.1%	Male, 71.5% Female, 28.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.3% White, 79.0% 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 general merchandise sales representative and outside sales representative duties and responsibilities

General merchandise sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage and assist a vast customer base in the market for new roofing needs after a large hail storm in Lubbock.
Develop and implement marketing programs for distributors and retailers, including co-op advertising plans, promotional events, and merchandising techniques.
Provide training which include seminars and PowerPoint presentations.

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.

General merchandise sales representative vs outside sales representative skills

Common general merchandise sales representative skills

Delivery Schedules, 83%
Customer Service, 13%
Sales Floor, 4%

Common outside sales representative skills

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

General Merchandise Sales Representative vs. similar jobs

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General Merchandise Sales Representative related jobs

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General Merchandise Sales Representative
General Merchandise Sales Representative vs Outside Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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