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Sales team leader vs sales manager

The differences between sales team leaders and sales managers 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 team leader, becoming a sales manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a sales manager has an average salary of $73,952, which is higher than the $51,578 average annual salary of a sales team leader.

The top three skills for a sales team leader include sales floor, product knowledge and customer service. The most important skills for a sales manager are product knowledge, customer satisfaction, and sales performance.

Sales team leader vs sales manager overview

Sales Team LeaderSales Manager
Yearly salary$51,578$73,952
Hourly rate$24.80$35.55
Growth rate4%5%
Number of jobs227,509119,066
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4346
Years of experience68

What does a sales team leader do?

A sales team leader oversees the sales operations within a particular area, ensuring to reach goals within the allotted time. They are primarily responsible for setting goals, devising sales strategies, evaluating sales team performance, assigning tasks, and providing support and corrective measures should there be any concerns. Furthermore, as a team leader, it is essential to encourage the sales force, shape them into valuable members of the company, and implement all of the organization's regulations and policies.

What does a sales manager do?

Sales managers are responsible for leading the organization's sales team. They oversee the progress and performance of the whole team, set area assignments to team members, and set weekly or monthly quotas. Sales managers oversee training team members during onboarding and providing further coaching to help them achieve their goals. They manage the challenges that team members may meet and help mitigate any problems that come along the way. Sales managers also set the strategic direction of the sales team and follow through by ensuring that the team's activities are in line with the goals.

Sales team leader vs sales manager salary

Sales team leaders and sales managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales Team LeaderSales Manager
Average salary$51,578$73,952
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $73,000Between $42,000 And $129,000
Highest paying CityMiddletown, NJJersey City, NJ
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNew Jersey
Best paying companyIderaCapgemini
Best paying industryFinance-

Differences between sales team leader and sales manager education

There are a few differences between a sales team leader and a sales manager in terms of educational background:

Sales Team LeaderSales Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at DelhiUniversity of Southern California

Sales team leader vs sales manager demographics

Here are the differences between sales team leaders' and sales managers' demographics:

Sales Team LeaderSales Manager
Average age4346
Gender ratioMale, 60.4% Female, 39.6%Male, 68.7% Female, 31.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%7%

Differences between sales team leader and sales manager duties and responsibilities

Sales team leader example responsibilities.

  • Achieve proficiency in multitasking by performing multiple duties and managing differing responsibilities periodically.
  • Increase electronics sales and attainment goals on a quarterly basis, rank 4th in company in certain KPI.
  • Process cell phone contracts and sales through POS system while helping customers and using computer applications to complete transactions.
  • Facilitate developmental meetings and conversations with sales teams to discuss KPI and metrics like incremental sales and points of purchase.
  • Conduct PowerPoint training presentations for new and present members.
  • Open and closing the store, including counting cash, opening and closing POS's and creating staff assignments.
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Sales manager example responsibilities.

  • Achieve proficiency in multitasking by performing multiple duties and managing differing responsibilities periodically.
  • Manage discount contracts, write up of add-ons, renewals, transfers of equities.
  • Manage and support one of the largest portfolios within the division and the largest in the Americas.
  • Manage website, updating product listings, enhancing SEO positioning, and maintaining overall site appearance and functionality.
  • Launch and manage the Americas outsourcing lead generation and qualification process.
  • Set all promotional activity, introduce new items and manage distributors in select markets.
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Sales team leader vs sales manager skills

Common sales team leader skills
  • Sales Floor, 22%
  • Product Knowledge, 14%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 6%
  • Exceptional Client, 5%
  • KPI, 4%
Common sales manager skills
  • Product Knowledge, 12%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 7%
  • Sales Performance, 6%
  • CRM, 5%
  • Sales Process, 4%
  • Work Ethic, 4%