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The differences between wholesalers and regional sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a wholesaler, becoming a regional sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a wholesaler has an average salary of $59,529, which is higher than the $57,926 average annual salary of a regional sales representative.
The top three skills for a wholesaler include business plan, annuities and territory sales. The most important skills for a regional sales representative are customer service, healthcare, and regional sales.
| Wholesaler | Regional Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $59,529 | $57,926 |
| Hourly rate | $28.62 | $27.85 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 6,195 | 230,746 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
A wholesaler sources inventory directly from manufacturers in a supply chain and sells it to retailers. They can sell products at a lesser unit price because they are selling in bulk, which reduces the cost and handling time of goods. They are tasked with sourcing products from manufacturers and storing them appropriately. They must have good bargaining skills and effective communication skills, be organized, and have excellent time-keeping skills.
A regional sales representative is responsible for selling goods and services to their designated areas by interacting with potential customers, demonstrating the product's features and functions, and responding to their inquiries and requests. Regional sales representatives should be highly communicative to negotiate with the customers to increase product sales and boost the company's profitability. They also assist in strategizing sales pitches, including promotional offers and processing of marketing materials. A regional sales representative also asks for feedback from the customers to improve their products and meet the public's demands and current market trends.
Wholesalers and regional sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Wholesaler | Regional Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $59,529 | $57,926 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $84,000 | Between $41,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Varian Medical Systems |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a wholesaler and a regional sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Wholesaler | Regional Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 80% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between wholesalers' and regional sales representatives' demographics:
| Wholesaler | Regional Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 46 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.6% Female, 24.4% | Male, 72.6% Female, 27.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 6.3% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |