Post job

Industry sales manager vs route sales manager

The differences between industry sales managers and route sales managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both an industry sales manager and a route sales manager. Additionally, an industry sales manager has an average salary of $84,766, which is higher than the $48,830 average annual salary of a route sales manager.

The top three skills for an industry sales manager include customer satisfaction, CRM and sales process. The most important skills for a route sales manager are food service, sales territory, and sales route.

Industry sales manager vs route sales manager overview

Industry Sales ManagerRoute Sales Manager
Yearly salary$84,766$48,830
Hourly rate$40.75$23.48
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs117,756112,342
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does an industry sales manager do?

Industry sales managers are professionals who are responsible for supervising all industrial sales of an organization to achieve revenue goals and profit in sales. These managers must analyze all requirements of individual market areas and recommend strategies that will improve profits for the organization. They must maintain an optimal level of customer service for all their industrial sales activities to ensure customer satisfaction. Industry sales managers must also implement various sales programs to facilitate sales while executing market strategies to reach all budget objectives.

What does a route sales manager do?

A route sales manager is responsible for monitoring the performance of the sales staff within their designated areas, ensuring the adherence to sales goals and objectives efficiently, and providing the highest satisfaction to the customers. Route sales managers develop strategic procedures for marketing campaigns, identifying business opportunities to generate more revenue resources, and increase the company's profitability. They also conduct sales training and programs for the staff to maximize productivity and enhance their sales skills. A route sales manager analyzes sales reports and evaluates customers' needs by studying market trends.

Industry sales manager vs route sales manager salary

Industry sales managers and route sales managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Industry Sales ManagerRoute Sales Manager
Average salary$84,766$48,830
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $123,000Between $42,000 And $56,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyMicrosoft-
Best paying industryUtilities-

Differences between industry sales manager and route sales manager education

There are a few differences between an industry sales manager and a route sales manager in terms of educational background:

Industry Sales ManagerRoute Sales Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Industry sales manager vs route sales manager demographics

Here are the differences between industry sales managers' and route sales managers' demographics:

Industry Sales ManagerRoute Sales Manager
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 84.3% Female, 15.7%Male, 93.7% Female, 6.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between industry sales manager and route sales manager duties and responsibilities

Industry sales manager example responsibilities.

  • Introduce a foreign manufacture into a dominant domestic automotive and aerospace markets while achieving business goals and domestic tool production plans.
  • Provide operational leadership including strategic planning, resource allocation, forecasting, ROI, and budget optimization.
  • Introduce a foreign manufacture into a dominant domestic automotive and aerospace markets while achieving business goals and domestic tool production plans.
  • Develop strategic territory and marketing plans, formulate RFP responses, provide international expertise on sales calls.

Route sales manager example responsibilities.

  • Prospect and cold-cal commercial locations, building relationships with distributors and manufacturer representatives to leverage internal leads.
  • Maintain medical card and CDL license.
  • Obtain a CDL license and drive a truck with a fifth wheel trailer and maintain that vehicle effectively.
  • Represent a complete line of paper and janitorial supplies to wholesale distributors, service established accounts and develop new business partners.
  • Develop & execute DSD system including tracking and development tools.
  • Create marketing content for pages and promotional initiatives, newsletter design and implementation, create designed and produce PowerPoint presentations.

Industry sales manager vs route sales manager skills

Common industry sales manager skills
  • Customer Satisfaction, 9%
  • CRM, 9%
  • Sales Process, 6%
  • Account Management, 5%
  • Trade Shows, 5%
  • Business Development, 5%
Common route sales manager skills
  • Food Service, 46%
  • Sales Territory, 24%
  • Sales Route, 5%
  • Delivery Route, 4%
  • CDL, 4%
  • Ecolab, 2%

Browse executive management jobs