How long does it take to become an Inside Sales Representative?

It takes 5 years of professional experience to become an inside sales representative. That is the time it takes to learn specific inside sales representative skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 8 to 10 years years to become an inside sales representative.

How can I be successful at inside sales?

You can be a successful inside sales representative by leveraging industry research with client knowledge. Top-performing inside sales representatives combine their sales ability with using technology to turn leads into customers.

How much do inside sales reps make a year?

Inside sales representatives make $47,000 a year, on average. The salary range for an inside sales representative typically falls between $39,732 and $55,230. This amount includes commission and bonuses that the inside sales representative makes and the hourly wage they might earn. While the amount an inside sales representative earns varies by location, it is generally in line with the living costs of any particular area.

Is inside sales a good career?

Yes, being an inside sales representative is a good career. This career is both accessible to anyone (even those without a degree) and can be a very profitable and fulfilling career path.

Is inside sales an easy job?

No, inside sales is not an easy job, but good inside sales representatives still find it rewarding. Every sales job comes with challenges, and inside sales is not exempt. Dedicated inside sales representatives can overcome these challenges.

What is meant by inside sales?

Inside sales is the process of selling from an office via phone, email, or online rather than traveling to meet clients. Inside sales is the dominant sales model for representatives in B2B, tech, SaaS, and various B2C industries selling high-ticket items.

What is an inside sales representative and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Frederik Beuk,

Joseph Hancock

An inside sales representative works within a company to sell products or services via phone, email, or online communication rather than in-person. They are responsible for identifying potential customers, contacting them, and persuading them to purchase the company's products or services. They also handle customer inquiries and provide support throughout the sales process. Inside sales representatives typically work in an office environment and collaborate with other members of the sales team to achieve common goals.

What general advice would you give to an inside sales representative?

Frederik Beuk

Associate Professor of Marketing, University of Akron

The key consideration is whether you really want to maximize your initial salary. For instance, envision two job opportunities: one offering a salary of $50,000 per year, where you'd be the most junior team member, and the other providing $75,000 per year, with the caveat that you would be the sole sales representative for the firm. The optimal choice is to prioritize learning opportunities. In this context, being the lone salesperson for a company that compensates its highest-earning sales professional $75,000 might not be your superior option. Instead, seek a position that offers the greatest potential for learning. Subsequently, demonstrate your negotiating prowess, a critical sales skill, by securing a slightly higher salary. However, it's essential not to fixate on maximizing your starting salary. Your career requires a long-term strategy, and you have several decades ahead of you to maximize income.

ScoreInside Sales RepresentativeUS Average

Salary

3.5

Avg. Salary $44,413

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 5.11%

Black or African American 3.80%

Hispanic or Latino 14.02%

Unknown 3.71%

White 73.12%

Gender

female 45.34%

male 54.66%

Age - 48

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an inside sales representative?

Pros

High earning potential through commissions
Ability to work from home or remotely
Often provided with leads and a pipeline of potential clients
Ability to work in a team environment and collaborate with colleagues
Often provided with sales training and resources

Cons

High-stress job with pressure to meet sales quotas and targets
Can involve long hours and working on weekends or holidays
May require cold calling, which can be challenging and uncomfortable
May require extensive travel or time spent away from home
Sales performance can be dependent on factors outside of the sales representative's control, such as market conditions or company changes

Key steps to become an inside sales representative

Explore inside sales representative education requirements

Most common inside sales representative degrees

Bachelor's

66.0 %

Associate

16.3 %

High School Diploma

9.4 %

Start to develop specific inside sales representative skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	21.52%
CRM	6.42%
Outbound Calls	5.22%
Product Knowledge	4.39%
Work Ethic	4.01%

Complete relevant inside sales representative training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New inside sales representatives learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an inside sales representative based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real inside sales representative resumes.

Research inside sales representative duties and responsibilities

Coordinate commercial sales and manage projects with HVAC contractors for Georgia district.
Accomplish tasks in a timely manner.Skills UsedComputer, math, reading wiring schematics.
Generate leads through the use of Linkedin, firm websites and legal magazines.
Manage and develop a nationwide territory through cold calling utilizing LinkedIn?, DiscoverOrg.

Prepare your inside sales representative resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your inside sales representative resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an inside sales representative resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable inside sales representative resume templates

Build a professional inside sales representative resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your inside sales representative resume.

Apply for inside sales representative jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an inside sales representative job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do inside sales representatives rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Inside sales representative reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021

Pros

Dealing with other professional engineers and managers that show higher levels of integrity when discussing requirements or a problem to solve.

Cons

The constant program delays and slow manufactures in support of opportunities that could be won with quicker responses.

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2021

Pros

Cultivating relationships with customers and accessing customers needs , I like solving their problems with the product or service that I am pre selling to them before passing the lead to a sales executive.

Cons

I am passionate about my role as a BDR and there is nothing that I don't like. I don't like to be put in a box so to speak I enjoy reaching high and don't like to limited.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

Communicating and helping my clients.

Cons

The travel was extensive. Sometimes. It took more than month to close a deaĺ.

What is an inside sales representative and how to become one

What general advice would you give to an inside sales representative?

What are the pros and cons of being an inside sales representative?

Inside sales representative career paths

Key steps to become an inside sales representative

Explore inside sales representative education requirements

Most common inside sales representative degrees

Start to develop specific inside sales representative skills

Complete relevant inside sales representative training and internships

Research inside sales representative duties and responsibilities

Prepare your inside sales representative resume

Choose from 10+ customizable inside sales representative resume templates

Apply for inside sales representative jobs

How did you land your first inside sales representative job

Average inside sales representative salary

How do inside sales representatives rate their job?

Inside sales representative reviews

Inside sales representative FAQs

How long does it take to become an Inside Sales Representative?

How can I be successful at inside sales?

How much do inside sales reps make a year?

Is inside sales a good career?

Is inside sales an easy job?

What is meant by inside sales?

Search for inside sales representative jobs

Inside sales representative jobs by state