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The differences between solution sales representatives and area 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 solution sales representative and an area sales representative. Additionally, a solution sales representative has an average salary of $78,463, which is higher than the $58,355 average annual salary of an area sales representative.
The top three skills for a solution sales representative include marketing campaigns, customer satisfaction and sales process. The most important skills for an area sales representative are customer service, business development, and sales process.
| Solution Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $78,463 | $58,355 |
| Hourly rate | $37.72 | $28.06 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 198,547 | 199,212 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A solution sales representative is responsible for selling and promoting the company's goods and services to clients and customers, recommending appropriate merchandise solutions depending on the customers' needs and budget limitations. Solution sales representatives identify leads through directories research and customer referrals, developing effective sales pitch to attract potential clients by discussing everything about the services. A solution sales representative must have excellent communication skills, especially in responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns, processing orders, and resolving complaints.
The primary role of an area sales representative is to sell the company's products and services within a specified region or territory. You will be responsible for attracting new clients, increase profitability, and win new accounts. Other duties typically include building and maintaining relationships with both new and existing customers, traveling across the region to visit customers, and maintaining records of customer accounts and sales leads. As an area sales representative, it is also your duty to close deals and negotiate service agreements, prices, and terms of sale.
Solution sales representatives and area sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Solution Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $78,463 | $58,355 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $120,000 | Between $42,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Syracuse, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Maine |
| Best paying company | Capgemini | Microsoft |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Finance |
There are a few differences between a solution sales representative and an area sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Solution Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between solution sales representatives' and area sales representatives' demographics:
| Solution Sales Representative | Area Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 14.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |