Post job

Sales agent vs inside sales specialist

The differences between sales agents and inside sales specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a sales agent, becoming an inside sales specialist takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an inside sales specialist has an average salary of $50,944, which is higher than the $45,217 average annual salary of a sales agent.

The top three skills for a sales agent include customer service, customer satisfaction and life insurance. The most important skills for an inside sales specialist are customer service, CRM, and sales process.

Sales agent vs inside sales specialist overview

Sales AgentInside Sales Specialist
Yearly salary$45,217$50,944
Hourly rate$21.74$24.49
Growth rate10%4%
Number of jobs391,987251,423
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4347
Years of experience64

What does a sales agent do?

A sales representative is responsible for offering goods and services to potential and existing clients. Sales representatives must display a strong knowledge of the company's products to assist customers with their inquiries and concerns. A sales representative should have exceptional communication skills and extensive knowledge of the sales industry to deliver sales pitches and negotiate pricing offers with the clients. Sales representatives must also keep themselves updated with the current market trends to provide service recommendations, improving their sales to increase revenues.

What does an inside sales specialist do?

An inside sales specialist is primarily responsible for securing sales by reaching out to clients to sell products and services. They may communicate with customers through calls and correspondence or personally recommend products in a retail store setting. Moreover, they are also responsible for responding to inquiries or concerns, identifying the customers' needs, devising strategies to find sales opportunities, and discussing products to customers. An inside sales specialist is often required to meet sales goals and report to managers should there be any issues or problems.

Sales agent vs inside sales specialist salary

Sales agents and inside sales specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales AgentInside Sales Specialist
Average salary$45,217$50,944
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $95,000Between $34,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateNew YorkWashington
Best paying companyGoldman SachsKeller Williams Greater Seattle
Best paying industry-Real Estate

Differences between sales agent and inside sales specialist education

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

Sales AgentInside Sales Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversitySUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Sales agent vs inside sales specialist demographics

Here are the differences between sales agents' and inside sales specialists' demographics:

Sales AgentInside Sales Specialist
Average age4347
Gender ratioMale, 52.7% Female, 47.3%Male, 52.0% Female, 48.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.7% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 9.3% White, 68.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between sales agent and inside sales specialist duties and responsibilities

Sales agent example responsibilities.

  • Manage a CRM pipeline of hundreds of leads with different needs and qualifications.
  • Generate fresh leads through outbound telemarketing.
  • Achieve sales standards set for department by effectively communicating Humana campaigns to customers.
  • Increase customer understanding of Comcast products and pricing models as well as competitive advantage over other service providers.
  • Schedule and meet individuals\groups for assign or self-generate leads, assist and enroll eligible individuals in suitable Medicare product.
  • Adhere to all CMS, company, and carrier relate policies and procedures while growing sales.
  • Show more

Inside sales specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage individual sales activities by developing highly effective, communications focuse relationship with multiple sales channels.
  • Present presentations to potential clients through Microsoft PowerPoint.
  • Maintain and update assigned territory through SalesLogix CRM program.
  • Revise and update CRM database to ensure accurate customer information.
  • Operate as inside sales consultant, primarily in areas of customer relations, sales/service support, coordinating production and transportation scheduling
  • Call on corporate counsel, c-level executives and law firms to sell solutions with traditional litigation support.
  • Show more

Sales agent vs inside sales specialist skills

Common sales agent skills
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 10%
  • Life Insurance, 10%
  • Insurance Products, 7%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Cold Calls, 4%
Common inside sales specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • CRM, 7%
  • Sales Process, 5%
  • Work Ethic, 5%
  • Product Knowledge, 5%
  • Outbound Calls, 4%