Outside sales representative vs direct sales representative

The differences between outside 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 outside sales representative and a direct sales representative. Additionally, an outside sales representative has an average salary of $60,443, which is higher than the $43,527 average annual salary of a direct sales representative.

The top three skills for an outside sales representative include customer service, work ethic and sales process. The most important skills for a direct sales representative are customer service, direct sales, and TV.

Outside sales representative vs direct sales representative overview

	Outside Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$60,443	$43,527
Hourly rate	$29.06	$20.93
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	218,034	159,668
Job satisfaction	4.5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

What does an outside sales representative do?

An Outside Sales Representative specializes in customer service and relations, focusing on reaching sales targets through selling and networking with clients. Among the duties revolve around reaching out to customers through calls, email, or even arranging appointments, monitoring and keeping an organized record of sales, communicating with managers or supervisors, adhering to the company's policies and regulations, and keeping extensive knowledge about the brand and the trends. Besides building rapport with customers, it is also essential for an Outside Sales Representative to be proactive and create strategies to help meet the sales target.

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.

Outside sales representative vs direct sales representative salary

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

	Outside Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Average salary	$60,443	$43,527
Salary range	Between $41,000 And $87,000	Between $27,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	Minneapolis, MN	Salem, OR
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Maine
Best paying company	Microsoft	Google
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	-

Differences between outside sales representative and direct sales representative education

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

	Outside Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Outside sales representative vs direct sales representative demographics

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

	Outside Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 71.5% Female, 28.5%	Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.6% 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 outside sales representative and direct sales representative duties and responsibilities

Outside sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage and maintain a weekly quota for broadband, and other wireless products.
Utilize CRM database to manage and track prospect interaction to ensure accurate documentation of window requirements and ongoing communication.
Web dev, SEO, PPC etc . )
Participate in the launching and marketing of broadband internet in Orlando with great success.
Provide care, materials, and essential tools for doctors and nurses working on patients in the E.R.
Create and maintain successful business partnerships with customers by analyzing, meeting and understanding their needs and patients needs.

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.

Outside sales representative vs direct sales representative skills

Common outside sales representative skills

Customer Service, 17%
Work Ethic, 8%
Sales Process, 4%
Business Sales, 4%
Cold Calls, 4%
Product Knowledge, 4%

Common direct sales representative skills

Customer Service, 33%
Direct Sales, 20%
TV, 15%
Work Ethic, 4%
Technical Troubleshooting, 3%
Door-To-Door Sales, 3%

Outside Sales Representative vs. similar jobs

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Outside Sales Representative
Outside Sales Representative vs Direct Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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