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Sales representative/assistant vs direct sales representative

The differences between sales representative/assistants and direct sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a sales representative/assistant and a direct sales representative. Additionally, a direct sales representative has an average salary of $43,527, which is higher than the $38,112 average annual salary of a sales representative/assistant.

The top three skills for a sales representative/assistant include product knowledge, brand awareness and sales associates. The most important skills for a direct sales representative are customer service, direct sales, and TV.

Sales representative/assistant vs direct sales representative overview

Sales Representative/AssistantDirect Sales Representative
Yearly salary$38,112$43,527
Hourly rate$18.32$20.93
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs404,514159,668
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

What does a sales representative/assistant do?

A sales representative is responsible for selling the company's products through creative leads, existing customer support, educating prospective clients through calls, training, presentations, and creative advertising. Their duties and responsibilities include coordinating with other departments to optimize sales and keeping updated sales records.

What does a direct sales representative do?

As a direct sales representative, you are responsible for creating customer awareness of a company's products and services and closing sales. You will perform varied tasks that include assisting in developing and executing marketing and sales plans, conducting research on competing products, and identifying opportunities to improve sales. Additionally, you are expected to answer inquiries about product features, availability, benefits, and pricing. Other tasks that you are likely to perform include attending trade shows, preparing sales proposals for prospective buyers, and preparing sales reports.

Sales representative/assistant vs direct sales representative salary

Sales representative/assistants and direct sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales Representative/AssistantDirect Sales Representative
Average salary$38,112$43,527
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $47,000Between $27,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City-Salem, OR
Highest paying state-Maine
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry--

Differences between sales representative/assistant and direct sales representative education

There are a few differences between a sales representative/assistant and a direct sales representative in terms of educational background:

Sales Representative/AssistantDirect Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at AlfredSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Sales representative/assistant vs direct sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between sales representative/assistants' and direct sales representatives' demographics:

Sales Representative/AssistantDirect Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 35.5% Female, 64.5%Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%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 Percentage6%6%

Differences between sales representative/assistant and direct sales representative duties and responsibilities

Sales representative/assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage organization website and Facebook page; writing articles for websites and newsletters.
  • Execute weekly on premise promotions and off-site special events that generate brand awareness, increase distribution and additional sales.
  • Create and maintain purchase and sales orders for clients through use of POS systems.
  • Operate a well-establish POS system which include POS reporting tools to better assist the sales team.
  • Communicate ongoing contact activity utilizing Salesforce.com.

Direct sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage accounts and create invoices via QuickBooks.
  • Achieve and maintain high-volume sales output, for cell phones and broadband products to stay employ with company.
  • Contact medicare eligible recipients to sell medicare advantage plans through in-home meetings, community seminars and direct telesales.
  • Canvass assigned sales territory and solicit orders for new or upgrade cable, broadband and digital phone services.
  • Generate revenue by selling and upselling services while developing client base throughout territory.
  • Prospect and generate sales revenue by adding new program residential customers and cross selling and upselling current residential customers.
  • Show more

Sales representative/assistant vs direct sales representative skills

Common sales representative/assistant skills
  • Product Knowledge, 24%
  • Brand Awareness, 20%
  • Sales Associates, 19%
  • Store Associates, 2%
  • Sales Reports, 2%
  • Increase Sales, 2%
Common direct sales representative skills
  • Customer Service, 33%
  • Direct Sales, 20%
  • TV, 15%
  • Work Ethic, 4%
  • Technical Troubleshooting, 3%
  • Door-To-Door Sales, 3%