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Sales agent vs sales representative

The differences between sales agents and 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 sales agent, becoming a sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a sales representative has an average salary of $56,591, 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 a sales representative are sales process, product knowledge, and customer service.

Sales agent vs sales representative overview

Sales AgentSales Representative
Yearly salary$45,217$56,591
Hourly rate$21.74$27.21
Growth rate10%4%
Number of jobs391,987205,456
Job satisfaction-4.33
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
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 a sales representative do?

Sales representatives primarily sell the company's products and services to businesses or organizations. They should be adept at closing out sales, negotiating, and providing customer service. They should be knowledgeable about the products or services of the manufacturer or producer they represent. They must also have strong analytical skills that would help them in coming up with cost-benefit analysis in assessing the current roster of clients and even prospective ones. Sales representatives should also be able to maintain good working relationships with all involved stakeholders, especially clients.

Sales agent vs sales representative salary

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

Sales AgentSales Representative
Average salary$45,217$56,591
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $95,000Between $33,000 And $94,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYBoston, MA
Highest paying stateNew YorkMassachusetts
Best paying companyGoldman SachsGoogle
Best paying industry-Pharmaceutical

Differences between sales agent and sales representative education

There are a few differences between a sales agent and a sales representative in terms of educational background:

Sales AgentSales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 48%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeStanford UniversitySUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Sales agent vs sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between sales agents' and sales representatives' demographics:

Sales AgentSales Representative
Average age4347
Gender ratioMale, 52.7% Female, 47.3%Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9%
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, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between sales agent and sales representative 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.
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Sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage prospective leads and existing accounts through a CRM platform to accurately forecast revenue and develop long-term business partnerships.
  • Manage and create all content distribute via various social media outlets: Facebook, twitter, feedback blogs, etc.
  • Search for procurement contracts, attend trade shows, design flyers, postcards, etc.
  • Utilize POS sales software to maintain monetary sales information produce reports for organizational review.
  • Develop and maintain business relationships with businesses and policyholders using establish methods such as customer relationship management CRM.
  • Handle administrative and sales duties as Jr.
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Sales agent vs sales representative skills

Common sales agent skills
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 10%
  • Life Insurance, 10%
  • Insurance Products, 7%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Cold Calls, 4%
Common sales representative skills
  • Sales Process, 9%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Business Development, 6%
  • Sales REP, 5%