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The differences between sales/field sales managers and sales development managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a sales/field sales manager, becoming a sales development manager takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a sales development manager has an average salary of $102,790, which is higher than the $80,257 average annual salary of a sales/field sales manager.
The top three skills for a sales/field sales manager include customer service, lead generation and sales training. The most important skills for a sales development manager are SDR, salesforce, and customer service.
| Sales/Field Sales Manager | Sales Development Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $80,257 | $102,790 |
| Hourly rate | $38.59 | $49.42 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 156,663 | 171,101 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 46 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
Sales or Field Sales Managers oversee the group in charge of conducting sales activities outside of the office or company branches. They manage field sales employees by hiring and training them. They also set goals on a weekly or monthly basis. They provide strategic direction to ensure that these goals are met. They monitor the performance of the team and identify areas for improvement. They would then create programs to address these challenges. Field Sales Managers should be familiar with the company's target market. They should also be familiar with the scope of area operations. This would help them create strategies in the context of their target market. Field sales managers should have a strong sales background and a determined attitude.
Sales Development Managers oversee a specific function in the sales department. They are in charge of creating sales pitches, communication tools, and strategies to boost the company's sales performance. They may be assigned to do these activities for a specific product or service or for the whole product line of the organization. Sales Development Managers are also expected to create branding images that will help their sales strategies. They are required to fully understand the company's history, image, and target market. This will ensure that the branding and sales strategies they create are in line with the company's values.
Sales/field sales managers and sales development managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sales/Field Sales Manager | Sales Development Manager | |
| Average salary | $80,257 | $102,790 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $124,000 | Between $66,000 And $157,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Everyday Health | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a sales/field sales manager and a sales development manager in terms of educational background:
| Sales/Field Sales Manager | Sales Development Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between sales/field sales managers' and sales development managers' demographics:
| Sales/Field Sales Manager | Sales Development Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.5% Female, 24.5% | Male, 67.8% Female, 32.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 4.4% White, 62.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 18% |