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Inside sales engineer vs associate sales representative

The differences between inside sales engineers and associate sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an inside sales engineer, becoming an associate sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an associate sales representative has an average salary of $51,007, which is higher than the $50,487 average annual salary of an inside sales engineer.

The top three skills for an inside sales engineer include customer service, product knowledge and CRM. The most important skills for an associate sales representative are work ethic, patients, and product knowledge.

Inside sales engineer vs associate sales representative overview

Inside Sales EngineerAssociate Sales Representative
Yearly salary$50,487$51,007
Hourly rate$24.27$24.52
Growth rate6%4%
Number of jobs156,700333,049
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4447
Years of experience64

What does an inside sales engineer do?

An inside sales engineer is an individual who uses specialized technical knowledge to negotiate between sales units and clients to increase the profits and revenue of a company. Inside sales, engineers must seek clients who will benefit from their products or services and aim to maximize client potential in the different allocated regions. Inside sales engineers must also provide technical help and carry out training, if necessary, once a sale has been made.

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.

Inside sales engineer vs associate sales representative salary

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

Inside Sales EngineerAssociate Sales Representative
Average salary$50,487$51,007
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $76,000Between $37,000 And $68,000
Highest paying CityAlexandria, VABoston, MA
Highest paying stateNew YorkMassachusetts
Best paying companyFluid Components InternationalVerint
Best paying industryTechnologyHealth Care

Differences between inside sales engineer and associate sales representative education

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

Inside Sales EngineerAssociate Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversitySUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Inside sales engineer vs associate sales representative demographics

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

Inside Sales EngineerAssociate Sales Representative
Average age4447
Gender ratioMale, 65.3% Female, 34.7%Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 1.7% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 5.7% White, 77.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%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 Percentage7%6%

Differences between inside sales engineer and associate sales representative duties and responsibilities

Inside sales engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage inbound domestic and international logistics and domestic shipping with respect to carrier selection, forwarding, brokering and expediting.
  • Provide technical contribution during the RFP / RFI process.
  • Write custom SQL reports for customers.
  • Utilize SQL to query databases while troubleshooting issues.
  • Design and configure computer systems for clients in the Pre-Sales mode.
  • Generate 3D renderings in AutoCAD and other design software for customer review.
  • 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

Inside sales engineer vs associate sales representative skills

Common inside sales engineer skills
  • Customer Service, 24%
  • Product Knowledge, 4%
  • CRM, 4%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 3%
  • Cleanliness, 3%
  • Distributors, 3%
Common associate sales representative skills
  • Work Ethic, 16%
  • Patients, 13%
  • Product Knowledge, 12%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 7%
  • Excellent Organizational, 4%
  • Sales Techniques, 4%