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Sales representative vs sales consultant

The differences between sales representatives and sales consultants 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 and a sales consultant. Additionally, a sales consultant has an average salary of $60,135, which is higher than the $56,591 average annual salary of a sales representative.

The top three skills for a sales representative include sales process, product knowledge and customer service. The most important skills for a sales consultant are sales process, product knowledge, and POS.

Sales representative vs sales consultant overview

Sales RepresentativeSales Consultant
Yearly salary$56,591$60,135
Hourly rate$27.21$28.91
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs205,456227,636
Job satisfaction4.334.5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4747
Years of experience44

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 sales consultant do?

Sales consultants are employees who work in the sales department of a company. They are usually more skilled than usual sales employees. As such, they are usually given more complicated products or services to sell because they will be able to explain the product or service to the customers better. Sales consultants have in-depth knowledge of the offerings of the company. They talk to customers, understand what the customers need, and match the customers' needs with company products that can address the needs. They should also be updated on trends in the market and what is currently popular with the masses.

Sales representative vs sales consultant salary

Sales representatives and sales consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales RepresentativeSales Consultant
Average salary$56,591$60,135
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $94,000Between $37,000 And $97,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companyGoogleGoogle
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalFinance

Differences between sales representative and sales consultant education

There are a few differences between a sales representative and a sales consultant in terms of educational background:

Sales RepresentativeSales Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at AlfredSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Sales representative vs sales consultant demographics

Here are the differences between sales representatives' and sales consultants' demographics:

Sales RepresentativeSales Consultant
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 58.1% Female, 41.9%Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8%
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, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 72.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between sales representative and sales consultant 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.
  • Show more

Sales consultant example responsibilities.

  • Achieve monthly sales goals through new business and upselling current clients.
  • Utilize CRM systems to effectively manage accounts; leverage competitor and market intelligence to drive offer posture and capture competitor accounts.
  • Create print ads design and create ad word campaign for SEO and SEM products.
  • Deliver effective sales presentations to individuals and groups while cross-selling additional vehicle products and services.
  • Handle incoming calls from Medicare recipients.
  • Hire and train employees teach effective upselling strategies.
  • Show more

Sales representative vs sales consultant skills

Common sales representative skills
  • Sales Process, 9%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Business Development, 6%
  • Sales REP, 5%
Common sales consultant skills
  • Sales Process, 13%
  • Product Knowledge, 11%
  • POS, 11%
  • Pre Sales, 7%
  • Work Ethic, 5%
  • Cross-Selling, 5%