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Sales representative/assistant vs sales support representative

The differences between sales representative/assistants and sales support 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 sales support representative. Additionally, a sales support representative has an average salary of $38,310, 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 sales support representative are sales support, phone calls, and POS.

Sales representative/assistant vs sales support representative overview

Sales Representative/AssistantSales Support Representative
Yearly salary$38,112$38,310
Hourly rate$18.32$18.42
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs404,514319,292
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
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 sales support representative do?

A sales support representative is responsible for assisting the complex operations of sales departments, performing administrative duties under the supervision of a direct manager. Sales support representatives' tasks include acknowledging and encoding customers' orders in the system, processing payments, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns about the products, writing sales reports, and updating the customer of the shipment details. They also support the sales representatives on selling goods and services to potential customers by creating marketing materials and communicating with customers over the phone and e-mail to generate revenues and increase profits.

Sales representative/assistant vs sales support representative salary

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

Sales Representative/AssistantSales Support Representative
Average salary$38,112$38,310
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $47,000Between $30,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-NetApp
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between sales representative/assistant and sales support representative education

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

Sales Representative/AssistantSales Support Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at AlfredSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Sales representative/assistant vs sales support representative demographics

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

Sales Representative/AssistantSales Support Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 35.5% Female, 64.5%Male, 39.9% Female, 60.1%
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, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between sales representative/assistant and sales support 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.

Sales support representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage internal CRM and inventory software to track and input sales orders, account history, and stock allocation.
  • Facilitate the transition from AS400 to JDE operating system.
  • Utilize all programs, systems, and procedures of windows operating systems.
  • Help customers troubleshoot technical issues with their computers, process customer transactions and handle escalate issues.
  • Assist in setting up and checking EDI data from customers, brokers, carriers, and truckers.
  • Work collaboratively with sales representatives and regional vice presidents to produce cost proposals, problem solve and troubleshoot issues.
  • Show more

Sales representative/assistant vs sales support 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 sales support representative skills
  • Sales Support, 16%
  • Phone Calls, 10%
  • POS, 8%
  • Product Knowledge, 7%
  • Customer Complaints, 6%
  • Customer Inquiries, 6%