Post job

Route sales manager vs technical sales manager

The differences between route sales managers and technical sales managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a route sales manager and a technical sales manager. Additionally, a technical sales manager has an average salary of $129,770, which is higher than the $48,830 average annual salary of a route sales manager.

The top three skills for a route sales manager include food service, sales territory and sales route. The most important skills for a technical sales manager are customer satisfaction, sales management, and CRM.

Route sales manager vs technical sales manager overview

Route Sales ManagerTechnical Sales Manager
Yearly salary$48,830$129,770
Hourly rate$23.48$62.39
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs112,342193,981
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a route sales manager do?

A route sales manager is responsible for monitoring the performance of the sales staff within their designated areas, ensuring the adherence to sales goals and objectives efficiently, and providing the highest satisfaction to the customers. Route sales managers develop strategic procedures for marketing campaigns, identifying business opportunities to generate more revenue resources, and increase the company's profitability. They also conduct sales training and programs for the staff to maximize productivity and enhance their sales skills. A route sales manager analyzes sales reports and evaluates customers' needs by studying market trends.

What does a technical sales manager do?

A technical sales manager is responsible for monitoring the sales techniques and performance of the sales team in selling technical services and systems to the customers. Technical sales managers coordinate with clients to discuss and negotiate offers of new products and services. They also identify business opportunities by analyzing current technology trends from public demands to generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profits. A technical sales manager facilitates and plans sales training and programs to maximize staff's efficiency and productivity.

Route sales manager vs technical sales manager salary

Route sales managers and technical sales managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Route Sales ManagerTechnical Sales Manager
Average salary$48,830$129,770
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $56,000Between $90,000 And $186,000
Highest paying City-Columbia, MD
Highest paying state-New Hampshire
Best paying company-Palo Alto Networks
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between route sales manager and technical sales manager education

There are a few differences between a route sales manager and a technical sales manager in terms of educational background:

Route Sales ManagerTechnical Sales Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Route sales manager vs technical sales manager demographics

Here are the differences between route sales managers' and technical sales managers' demographics:

Route Sales ManagerTechnical Sales Manager
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 93.7% Female, 6.3%Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between route sales manager and technical sales manager duties and responsibilities

Route sales manager example responsibilities.

  • Prospect and cold-cal commercial locations, building relationships with distributors and manufacturer representatives to leverage internal leads.
  • Maintain medical card and CDL license.
  • Obtain a CDL license and drive a truck with a fifth wheel trailer and maintain that vehicle effectively.
  • Represent a complete line of paper and janitorial supplies to wholesale distributors, service established accounts and develop new business partners.
  • Develop & execute DSD system including tracking and development tools.
  • Create marketing content for pages and promotional initiatives, newsletter design and implementation, create designed and produce PowerPoint presentations.

Technical sales manager example responsibilities.

  • Achieve annual sales and profit objectives for fast-pace company by securing contracts to sell automation components to MRO & OEM clients.
  • Manage sales pipeline in CRM system for predictable revenue generation, prioritization and forecasting.
  • Develop new customers in the region assign through independent travel, managing distributor relationships and OEM relationships.
  • Determine product pricing base on multiple ROI factors.
  • Recognize as trusted subject matter expert all in SaaS, virtual lab and eLearning services.
  • Own & drive client strategy from a technology perspective including leading proof of concept and ROI initiatives.
  • Show more

Route sales manager vs technical sales manager skills

Common route sales manager skills
  • Food Service, 46%
  • Sales Territory, 24%
  • Sales Route, 5%
  • Delivery Route, 4%
  • CDL, 4%
  • Ecolab, 2%
Common technical sales manager skills
  • Customer Satisfaction, 11%
  • Sales Management, 9%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Product Line, 5%
  • Business Development, 5%
  • Sales Strategies, 4%

Browse executive management jobs