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Sales representative vs customer service administrator

The differences between sales representatives and customer service administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a sales representative, becoming a customer service administrator takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a sales representative has an average salary of $56,591, which is higher than the $35,824 average annual salary of a customer service administrator.

The top three skills for a sales representative include sales process, product knowledge and customer service. The most important skills for a customer service administrator are strong customer service, data entry, and post sales.

Sales representative vs customer service administrator overview

Sales RepresentativeCustomer Service Administrator
Yearly salary$56,591$35,824
Hourly rate$27.21$17.22
Growth rate4%-4%
Number of jobs205,456247,315
Job satisfaction4.33-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4740
Years of experience412

What does a sales representative do?

Sales representatives primarily sell the company's products and services to businesses or organizations. They should be adept at closing out sales, negotiating, and providing customer service. They should be knowledgeable about the products or services of the manufacturer or producer they represent. They must also have strong analytical skills that would help them in coming up with cost-benefit analysis in assessing the current roster of clients and even prospective ones. Sales representatives should also be able to maintain good working relationships with all involved stakeholders, especially clients.

What does a customer service administrator do?

Customer service administrators supervise people in performing customer service and relations. They manage customer inquiries and oversee customer service representative needs and requirements. In carrying out their job, they function as the middlemen between customers and the company. Their job requires strong communication and clerical skills. They are expected to have a mindset focused on customers while being polite, helpful, and patient. Among their other responsibilities include sales promotion, answering phone calls, handling complaints and inquiries, and adherence to team goals and budget.

Sales representative vs customer service administrator salary

Sales representatives and customer service administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales RepresentativeCustomer Service Administrator
Average salary$56,591$35,824
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $94,000Between $28,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAFremont, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsAlaska
Best paying companyGoogleWestinghouse Appliances Australia
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalTechnology

Differences between sales representative and customer service administrator education

There are a few differences between a sales representative and a customer service administrator in terms of educational background:

Sales RepresentativeCustomer Service Administrator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at Alfred-

Sales representative vs customer service administrator demographics

Here are the differences between sales representatives' and customer service administrators' demographics:

Sales RepresentativeCustomer Service Administrator
Average age4740
Gender ratioMale, 58.1% Female, 41.9%Male, 20.3% Female, 79.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 6.8% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%7%

Differences between sales representative and customer service administrator duties and responsibilities

Sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage prospective leads and existing accounts through a CRM platform to accurately forecast revenue and develop long-term business partnerships.
  • Manage and create all content distribute via various social media outlets: Facebook, twitter, feedback blogs, etc.
  • Search for procurement contracts, attend trade shows, design flyers, postcards, etc.
  • Utilize POS sales software to maintain monetary sales information produce reports for organizational review.
  • Develop and maintain business relationships with businesses and policyholders using establish methods such as customer relationship management CRM.
  • Handle administrative and sales duties as Jr.
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Customer service administrator example responsibilities.

  • Lead departmental operating reviews that are in line with expectations of HIPAA providing physician leaders with critical data.
  • Maintain daily teller duties by processing customer deposits and withdrawals, managing the vault and ATM, as needed.
  • Manage the sales order process; entering, picking and invoicing EDI and specialty accounts that have their own vendor portals.
  • Manage cleanliness and organization of work area and equipment.
  • Manage on-site registration at events including management of volunteers, registration setup, and coordinate all registration logistics.
  • Coordinate communications product deliveries with internal production managers, shipping department and freight forwarders to ensure contract and U.S. export compliance.
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Sales representative vs customer service administrator skills

Common sales representative skills
  • Sales Process, 9%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Business Development, 6%
  • Sales REP, 5%
Common customer service administrator skills
  • Strong Customer Service, 22%
  • Data Entry, 11%
  • Post Sales, 5%
  • Customer Inquiries, 5%
  • Purchase Orders, 3%
  • PowerPoint, 3%