Post job

Market development specialist vs product specialist

The differences between market development specialists and product specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a market development specialist and a product specialist. Additionally, a product specialist has an average salary of $85,932, which is higher than the $58,991 average annual salary of a market development specialist.

The top three skills for a market development specialist include market development, healthcare and heart failure. The most important skills for a product specialist are customer service, product knowledge, and sales floor.

Market development specialist vs product specialist overview

Market Development SpecialistProduct Specialist
Yearly salary$58,991$85,932
Hourly rate$28.36$41.31
Growth rate19%19%
Number of jobs82,421103,863
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age3737
Years of experience66

What does a market development specialist do?

A market development specialist works on different marketing programs and projects to secure sales and premium goals. They develop and execute training strategies and programs, perform market research and analyses to find business opportunities, study the consumers and competitors, and create sales pitches ideal for field operations. They may also reach out directly to clients by calls, emails, or appointments, offer products and services, and establish positive relationships through efficient services. Additionally, a market development specialist oversees every marketing project's progress, producing reports for managers regularly.

What does a product specialist do?

A product specialist is required to have excellent knowledge about a product and work with a business unit to ensure excellent product delivery. Product specialists perform product demonstrations to customers and other stakeholders and assist in their promotions and product releases. To gain increased revenue, product specialists must be able to identify new market opportunities. They are required to conduct product and sales training for the marketing team. They must also provide reports about their product-related activities to the management.

Market development specialist vs product specialist salary

Market development specialists and product specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Market Development SpecialistProduct Specialist
Average salary$58,991$85,932
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $87,000Between $56,000 And $130,000
Highest paying CityWilmington, DESan Bruno, CA
Highest paying stateDelawareCalifornia
Best paying companyAmazonByteDance
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between market development specialist and product specialist education

There are a few differences between a market development specialist and a product specialist in terms of educational background:

Market Development SpecialistProduct Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia

Market development specialist vs product specialist demographics

Here are the differences between market development specialists' and product specialists' demographics:

Market Development SpecialistProduct Specialist
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 59.6% Female, 40.4%Male, 59.8% Female, 40.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 9.6% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 10.6% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between market development specialist and product specialist duties and responsibilities

Market development specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage all negotiations of catalog advertising for reseller channel, including proofing and approving placement of ads.
  • Conduct keyword research and selection for pay-per-click campaigns and SEO projects.
  • Provide ongoing support of all SEO initiatives including reporting, analysis and optimization recommendations.
  • Maximize equipment productivity by ensuring proper placement and usage by developing working relationship with suppliers, distributors and their sales force.
  • Strengthen cross-selling opportunities by cultivating, building, and maintaining relationships with clients across different business channels.

Product specialist example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage RFP responses for potential customers and develop product quotes base on customer requirements.
  • Manage projects and priorities list of ongoing engineering plans base on ROI and business needs, and relay to operations regularly.
  • Perform weekly review and update of lead list against opportunities manage in Salesforce.com.
  • Manage telephone relationships with senior management of client companies to troubleshoot and develop product.
  • Participate in CAPA activities as required.
  • Develop generic UI's that includes re-branding & re-skinning of product.
  • Show more

Market development specialist vs product specialist skills

Common market development specialist skills
  • Market Development, 21%
  • Healthcare, 15%
  • Heart Failure, 8%
  • Sales Growth, 7%
  • Trade Shows, 6%
  • Customer Events, 4%
Common product specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Product Knowledge, 7%
  • Sales Floor, 7%
  • Patients, 6%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%
  • Windows, 3%

Browse business and financial jobs