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The differences between sales/field 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 sales/field sales manager and a technical sales manager. Additionally, a technical sales manager has an average salary of $129,770, 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 technical sales manager are customer satisfaction, sales management, and CRM.
| Sales/Field Sales Manager | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $80,257 | $129,770 |
| Hourly rate | $38.59 | $62.39 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 156,663 | 193,981 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
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.
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.
Sales/field sales managers and technical sales managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Sales/Field Sales Manager | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Average salary | $80,257 | $129,770 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $124,000 | Between $90,000 And $186,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Columbia, MD |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Palo Alto Networks | |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a sales/field sales manager and a technical sales manager in terms of educational background:
| Sales/Field Sales Manager | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between sales/field sales managers' and technical sales managers' demographics:
| Sales/Field Sales Manager | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.5% Female, 24.5% | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |