Sales management trainee vs associate sales representative

The differences between sales management trainees and associate 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 management trainee, becoming an associate sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, an associate sales representative has an average salary of $51,007, which is higher than the $47,400 average annual salary of a sales management trainee.

The top three skills for a sales management trainee include business development, business sales and enterprise management. The most important skills for an associate sales representative are work ethic, patients, and product knowledge.

Sales management trainee vs associate sales representative overview

	Sales Management Trainee	Associate Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$47,400	$51,007
Hourly rate	$22.79	$24.52
Growth rate	5%	4%
Number of jobs	290,692	333,049
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 82%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age	43	47
Years of experience	6	4

What does a sales management trainee do?

Typically, sales management trainees are recruited at the entry-level, where they learn to manage sales. The trainees assist with tasks associated with sales management. They work under the supervision of executives and managers in business enterprises. They are equipped with the knowledge to become managers in the fields of sales, operations, and marketing. Among the necessary skills for this job include management skills, problem-solving, leadership, communication skills, attention to detail, time management, and organizational awareness.

What does an associate sales representative do?

The duties of an associate sales representative depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Their responsibilities typically revolve around reaching out to clients through calls or door-to-door visits, offering products and services, collecting payments, addressing issues and concerns, and performing corrective measures when necessary. An associate sales representative often has a quota and deadline to reach; therefore, it is essential to be sales driven and goal-oriented. Furthermore, one must adhere to the policies and regulations of the company.

Sales management trainee vs associate sales representative salary

Sales management trainees and associate sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Sales Management Trainee	Associate Sales Representative
Average salary	$47,400	$51,007
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $58,000	Between $37,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City	Newark, NJ	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Cisco	Verint
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Health Care

Differences between sales management trainee and associate sales representative education

There are a few differences between a sales management trainee and an associate sales representative in terms of educational background:

	Sales Management Trainee	Associate Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 82%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Sales management trainee vs associate sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between sales management trainees' and associate sales representatives' demographics:

	Sales Management Trainee	Associate Sales Representative
Average age	43	47
Gender ratio	Male, 71.3% Female, 28.7%	Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 7.2% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	9%	6%

Differences between sales management trainee and associate sales representative duties and responsibilities

Sales management trainee example responsibilities.

Monitor and manage payroll and controllable expenses within company guidelines.
Manage customer database, product updates/upgrades, accounts payable/receivable, and payroll.
Assist management team in daily facility operations that include managing performance of associates and inventory shrink management.
Inform on how to navigate through Salesforce.
Identify prospective clients and assist clients using CRM software.
Perform, multiple, complex CRM and customer maintenance activities.

Associate sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage organization website and Facebook page; writing articles for websites and newsletters.
Perform inside sales, including telemarketing, prospecting, account penetration and product application, consulting and delivery of customer service.
Learned how to ask proper questions and communicate MetLife's product differentiators against competition

Sales management trainee vs associate sales representative skills

Common sales management trainee skills

Business Development, 21%
Business Sales, 10%
Enterprise Management, 10%
Management Training, 8%
Store Management, 8%
World Class, 7%

Common associate sales representative skills

Work Ethic, 16%
Patients, 13%
Product Knowledge, 12%
Excellent Interpersonal, 7%
Excellent Organizational, 4%
Sales Techniques, 4%

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Sales Management Trainee
Sales Management Trainee vs Associate Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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