Inside sales representative vs direct sales representative

The differences between inside sales representatives and direct 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 an inside sales representative and a direct sales representative. Additionally, an inside sales representative has an average salary of $44,413, which is higher than the $43,527 average annual salary of a direct sales representative.

The top three skills for an inside sales representative include customer service, CRM and outbound calls. The most important skills for a direct sales representative are customer service, direct sales, and TV.

Inside sales representative vs direct sales representative overview

	Inside Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$44,413	$43,527
Hourly rate	$21.35	$20.93
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	244,168	159,668
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

What does an inside sales representative do?

An inside sales representative is responsible for selling services and products to clients, driving the company's revenues and increase sales profitability. Duties of an inside sales representative include developing strategic sales pitches, responding to customer's inquiries and requests, offering promotional products and discounts, researching potential clients, creating sales reports, and managing customer's possible complaints. An inside sales representative also provides strategic solutions to share with the sales team to improve their sales performance. Inside sales representatives must have excellent communication and negotiation skills to deal with customers' needs.

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.

Inside sales representative vs direct sales representative salary

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

	Inside Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Average salary	$44,413	$43,527
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $69,000	Between $27,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Salem, OR
Highest paying state	Wyoming	Maine
Best paying company	Berkshire Hathaway	Google
Best paying industry	Technology	-

Differences between inside sales representative and direct sales representative education

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

	Inside Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 66%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Inside sales representative vs direct sales representative demographics

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

	Inside Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 54.7% Female, 45.3%	Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%
Race ratio	Black 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 Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between inside sales representative and direct sales representative duties and responsibilities

Inside sales representative example 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.
Manage help desk support for company ERP system as well as employee hardware and software issues.
Manage a team of 15-25 ISE's through effective sales coaching, call monitoring and creating sales spiff programs.

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.

Inside sales representative vs direct sales representative skills

Common inside sales representative skills

Customer Service, 22%
CRM, 6%
Outbound Calls, 5%
Product Knowledge, 4%
Work Ethic, 4%
Sales Process, 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%

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Inside Sales Representative
Inside Sales Representative vs Direct Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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