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The differences between technical sales representatives and sales/account representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a technical sales representative, becoming a sales/account representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a technical sales representative has an average salary of $71,310, which is higher than the $56,954 average annual salary of a sales/account representative.
The top three skills for a technical sales representative include sales process, business development and sales support. The most important skills for a sales/account representative are customer service, CRM, and sales process.
| Technical Sales Representative | Sales/Account Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $71,310 | $56,954 |
| Hourly rate | $34.28 | $27.38 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 237,456 | 257,122 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A technical sales representative is responsible for selling products and services by demonstrating the product's details and features to existing and potential clients. Technical sales representatives evaluate clients' needs and recommend solutions through the organization's technology-based products. They also assist with promotional offers and marketing campaigns to boost brand awareness and increase revenues and achieve profitability goals while ensuring the highest customer satisfaction. A technical sales representative must have excellent communication and customer service skills, handling customers' inquiries, and resolving complaints.
A sales account representative is responsible for managing and responding promptly to customer complaints and queries of clients. They focus on customer concerns and contact prospects. They work on upselling or cross-selling products and services, collaborating with account executives, and prepare reports to upper management. This job requires you to be a goal-driven person, energetic, and have excellent communication skills. Moreover, this is a challenging job; at times, it requires being extra polite and calm in handling customer complaints and other related situations.
Technical sales representatives and sales/account representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Technical Sales Representative | Sales/Account Representative | |
| Average salary | $71,310 | $56,954 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $129,000 | Between $39,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Olympia, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | Smartsheet | |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between a technical sales representative and a sales/account representative in terms of educational background:
| Technical Sales Representative | Sales/Account Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between technical sales representatives' and sales/account representatives' demographics:
| Technical Sales Representative | Sales/Account Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.3% Female, 26.7% | Male, 57.8% Female, 42.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |