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Sales assistant vs inside sales associate

The differences between sales assistants and inside sales associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an inside sales associate has an average salary of $40,687, which is higher than the $35,258 average annual salary of a sales assistant.

The top three skills for a sales assistant include customer service, powerpoint and account executives. The most important skills for an inside sales associate are inside sales, sales associates, and strong customer service.

Sales assistant vs inside sales associate overview

Sales AssistantInside Sales Associate
Yearly salary$35,258$40,687
Hourly rate$16.95$19.56
Growth rate-4%
Number of jobs347,034320,863
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4147
Years of experience-4

What does a sales assistant do?

Sales assistants are usually entry-level or junior employees who are assigned to help out in the sales department. They are responsible for any administrative or clerical activities needed in the department. They may also work on the operations floor to assist with the selling of company products or services. They help complete company sales by approaching potential buyers and answering any questions about items. They should be familiar with what the company offers to identify the products that would best fit the needs of the customer.

What does an inside sales associate do?

An inside sales associate is responsible for selling the company's goods and services through remote communication. Inside sales associates make calls to potential customers, demonstrate the products' features, take orders, process payments, and inform the customers of the delivery details. They strategize the most effective sales pitches to attract the customers on purchasing more services that would generate revenues and increase the company's profitability and brand image. An inside sales associate also supports the marketing team in developing marketing campaigns and promotional offers depending on customer demands and requests.

Sales assistant vs inside sales associate salary

Sales assistants and inside sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales AssistantInside Sales Associate
Average salary$35,258$40,687
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $47,000Between $30,000 And $54,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateNew YorkWashington
Best paying companyIBMMSCI
Best paying industryFinanceHealth Care

Differences between sales assistant and inside sales associate education

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

Sales AssistantInside Sales Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Sales assistant vs inside sales associate demographics

Here are the differences between sales assistants' and inside sales associates' demographics:

Sales AssistantInside Sales Associate
Average age4147
Gender ratioMale, 28.2% Female, 71.8%Male, 57.3% Female, 42.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 8.0% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage7%6%

Differences between sales assistant and inside sales associate duties and responsibilities

Sales assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage numerous, highly confidential details for retirement plan deals from start to finish including meticulous preparation of PowerPoint presentations.
  • Work with 3 AE's billing out 5 million a year.
  • Maintain broadcast files to FCC regulations.
  • Work with NSM with national accounts payables.
  • Negotiate air time for national commercials airing on ABC & CBS.
  • Handle local and national political advertisers with orders and make sure station comply with FCC regulations.
  • Show more

Inside sales associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage individual sales activities by developing highly effective, communications focuse relationship with multiple sales channels.
  • Provide awareness to customers of the benefits of moving to a cloud platform for intra/customer facing web applications.
  • Develop a standardize, customize CRM system to track sales and marketing ROI that link into operational and financial ERP systems.
  • Calculate roofing amounts/square footage etc.
  • Maintain cleanliness and organization of stockroom shelves.
  • Conduct effective outbound telemarketing calls to potential and existing clients.
  • Show more

Sales assistant vs inside sales associate skills

Common sales assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 36%
  • PowerPoint, 8%
  • Account Executives, 4%
  • Sales Support, 4%
  • Sales Floor, 4%
  • Sales Reports, 3%
Common inside sales associate skills
  • Inside Sales, 13%
  • Sales Associates, 7%
  • Strong Customer Service, 6%
  • Sales Process, 5%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
  • Sales Floor, 5%