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The differences between lead sales representatives and area 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 a lead sales representative, becoming an area sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an area sales representative has an average salary of $58,355, which is higher than the $54,079 average annual salary of a lead sales representative.
The top three skills for a lead sales representative include cleanliness, customer service and POS. The most important skills for an area sales representative are customer service, business development, and sales process.
| Lead Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $54,079 | $58,355 |
| Hourly rate | $26.00 | $28.06 |
| Growth rate | - | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 404,430 | 199,212 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A lead sales representative is responsible for selling goods and services to existing and potential customers through electronic communications and area visits. Lead sales representatives should be highly-knowledgeable of the products that the company offers to discuss and demonstrate the features to the client accurately. They take orders, process orders, and ensure the correct distribution details according to the customers' specifications. A lead sales representative also monitors the team's sales performance and strategize opportunities to maximize selling techniques and increase profitability.
The primary role of an area sales representative is to sell the company's products and services within a specified region or territory. You will be responsible for attracting new clients, increase profitability, and win new accounts. Other duties typically include building and maintaining relationships with both new and existing customers, traveling across the region to visit customers, and maintaining records of customer accounts and sales leads. As an area sales representative, it is also your duty to close deals and negotiate service agreements, prices, and terms of sale.
Lead sales representatives and area sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $54,079 | $58,355 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $89,000 | Between $42,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Syracuse, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | Maine |
| Best paying company | - | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a lead sales representative and an area sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Lead Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between lead sales representatives' and area sales representatives' demographics:
| Lead Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.1% Female, 44.9% | Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |