Outside sales associate vs business sales associate

The differences between outside sales associates and business sales associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an outside sales associate and a business sales associate. Additionally, a business sales associate has an average salary of $59,485, which is higher than the $38,705 average annual salary of an outside sales associate.

The top three skills for an outside sales associate include customer service, roofing and sales. The most important skills for a business sales associate are business sales, product knowledge, and customer satisfaction.

Outside sales associate vs business sales associate overview

	Outside Sales Associate	Business Sales Associate
Yearly salary	$38,705	$59,485
Hourly rate	$18.61	$28.60
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	347,423	359,630
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

What does an outside sales associate do?

Outside sales associates are professionals who conduct sales at various locations by performing face-to-face interactions with both potential and existing customers about their organization's new or updated products. These associates are required to travel within their sales territory to meet customers as well as maintain relationships with them. They must educate their customers about the benefits they can achieve both financially and professionally from their products and then sell them to their customers. Outside sales associates must also collaborate with the marketing department to assist in building their organization's brand.

What does a business sales associate do?

A business sales associate's primary goal is to secure sales and reach sales targets. To make this possible, a business sales associate conducts market research and analyses to identify new business and client opportunities, generates leads, and develops sales strategies. They usually reach out to potential clients or representatives through calls or correspondence, arrange appointments, discuss product or service specifications, organize payment plans, and negotiate contracts, building positive business relationships along the way. Moreover, they produce progress reports and coordinate with managers regularly.

Outside sales associate vs business sales associate salary

Outside sales associates and business sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Outside Sales Associate	Business Sales Associate
Average salary	$38,705	$59,485
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $54,000	Between $42,000 And $84,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between outside sales associate and business sales associate education

There are a few differences between an outside sales associate and a business sales associate in terms of educational background:

	Outside Sales Associate	Business Sales Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Outside sales associate vs business sales associate demographics

Here are the differences between outside sales associates' and business sales associates' demographics:

	Outside Sales Associate	Business Sales Associate
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%	Male, 60.0% Female, 40.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between outside sales associate and business sales associate duties and responsibilities

Outside sales associate example responsibilities.

Manage and create all content distribute via various social media outlets: Facebook, twitter, feedback blogs, etc.
Prospect for new HVAC accounts or non-traditional accounts such as industrial, commercial, governmental, etc.
Provide merchandising assistance to customers by building displays, negotiating placement, replenishing permanent secondary displays and using POS materials effectively.
Research and locate hard-to-find equipment and materials for MRO and OEM clients.
Create a zip code analysis tool to identify Medicaid recipients' target areas for strategic marketing penetration.

Business sales associate example responsibilities.

Manage individual sales activities by developing highly effective, communications focuse relationship with multiple sales channels.
Perform inside sales, including telemarketing, prospecting, account penetration and product application, consulting and delivery of customer service.
Top performer among peers in revenue and margin attainments, upselling extend warranties and converting credit card sales to leases.
Assist MRO organizations in composite shop design and organization.

Outside sales associate vs business sales associate skills

Common outside sales associate skills

Customer Service, 32%
Roofing, 11%
Sales, 10%
Sales Floor, 8%
Sales Support, 6%
Customer Issues, 5%

Common business sales associate skills

Business Sales, 14%
Product Knowledge, 14%
Customer Satisfaction, 10%
CRM, 10%
Sales Process, 6%
Customer Support, 5%

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Outside Sales Associate
Outside Sales Associate vs Business Sales Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

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