Telephone sales representative vs direct sales representative

The differences between telephone sales representatives and direct sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a direct sales representative has an average salary of $43,527, which is higher than the $28,512 average annual salary of a telephone sales representative.

The top three skills for a telephone sales representative include outbound calls, telephone sales and life insurance. The most important skills for a direct sales representative are customer service, direct sales, and TV.

Telephone sales representative vs direct sales representative overview

	Telephone Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$28,512	$43,527
Hourly rate	$13.71	$20.93
Growth rate	-4%	4%
Number of jobs	214,765	159,668
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age	37	47
Years of experience	-	4

What does a telephone sales representative do?

The primary job of telephone sales representatives is to sell products and services to prospective customers through telephone. They typically answer phone calls and answer inquiries from customers. Their duties and responsibilities include updating database and backup data regularly, completing forms and recording logs, and following organizational standards in order to maintain quality and exceptional customer service. Qualifications required for this role may include previous work experience in sales or a related field, customer service skills, and strong attention to detail.

What does a direct sales representative do?

As a direct sales representative, you are responsible for creating customer awareness of a company's products and services and closing sales. You will perform varied tasks that include assisting in developing and executing marketing and sales plans, conducting research on competing products, and identifying opportunities to improve sales. Additionally, you are expected to answer inquiries about product features, availability, benefits, and pricing. Other tasks that you are likely to perform include attending trade shows, preparing sales proposals for prospective buyers, and preparing sales reports.

Telephone sales representative vs direct sales representative salary

Telephone sales representatives and direct sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Telephone Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Average salary	$28,512	$43,527
Salary range	Between $17,000 And $47,000	Between $27,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	Beverly, MA	Salem, OR
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Maine
Best paying company	UnitedHealth Group	Google
Best paying industry	Media	-

Differences between telephone sales representative and direct sales representative education

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

	Telephone Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 32%	Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Telephone sales representative vs direct sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between telephone sales representatives' and direct sales representatives' demographics:

	Telephone Sales Representative	Direct Sales Representative
Average age	37	47
Gender ratio	Male, 41.5% Female, 58.5%	Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 17.8% Unknown, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 3.9% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	11%	6%

Differences between telephone sales representative and direct sales representative duties and responsibilities

Telephone sales representative example responsibilities.

Conduct telephone sales and interviews, compile and enter information into database, manage documents and insure customer satisfaction.
Maintain HIPAA regulations and standards.
Build, setup, troubleshoot and maintain computer hardware and software needs as necessary.
Place out bound sales calls to current DIRECTV customers and try to get them to upgrade their current channel package.
Follow governmental regulations and HIPAA guidelines.
Locate and troubleshoot items that customers have purchased

Direct sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage accounts and create invoices via QuickBooks.
Achieve and maintain high-volume sales output, for cell phones and broadband products to stay employ with company.
Contact medicare eligible recipients to sell medicare advantage plans through in-home meetings, community seminars and direct telesales.
Canvass assigned sales territory and solicit orders for new or upgrade cable, broadband and digital phone services.
Generate revenue by selling and upselling services while developing client base throughout territory.
Prospect and generate sales revenue by adding new program residential customers and cross selling and upselling current residential customers.

Telephone sales representative vs direct sales representative skills

Common telephone sales representative skills

Outbound Calls, 18%
Telephone Sales, 11%
Life Insurance, 11%
Product Knowledge, 7%
Customer Service, 7%
Inbound Calls, 6%

Common direct sales representative skills

Customer Service, 33%
Direct Sales, 20%
TV, 15%
Work Ethic, 4%
Technical Troubleshooting, 3%
Door-To-Door Sales, 3%

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Telephone Sales Representative
Telephone Sales Representative vs Direct Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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