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The differences between medical representatives and distribution sales 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 medical representative, becoming a distribution sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a distribution sales representative has an average salary of $41,865, which is higher than the $36,309 average annual salary of a medical representative.
The top three skills for a medical representative include patients, customer service and first aid kits. The most important skills for a distribution sales representative are product knowledge, territory sales, and customer accounts.
| Medical Representative | Distribution Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $36,309 | $41,865 |
| Hourly rate | $17.46 | $20.13 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 176,481 | 235,775 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
A medical representative is responsible for selling medical equipment, medications, and other medical supplies by demonstrating benefits and features to patients and healthcare professionals. Medical representatives work closely with their company's marketing department to develop strategic procedures and promotional techniques to attract customers and generate revenues for the business. They respond to the customers' inquiries and concerns, take their orders, and process their payments. A medical representative also analyzes the current trends in the medical industry to identify business opportunities that would establish a market presence.
A distribution sales representative is a sales professional who usually works for wholesale and manufacturing companies, aiming to secure sales with retailers and individuals. Their duties entail conducting market research and analyses to find client and business opportunities, generating leads, communicating with clients through calls, arranging appointments, answering inquiries, discussing product or service specifications, and negotiating contracts, building positive relationships along the way. Moreover, as a distribution sales representative, keeping up with the latest trends to enhance sales pitches is essential.
Medical representatives and distribution sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Representative | Distribution Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $36,309 | $41,865 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $48,000 | Between $25,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lansing, MI | - |
| Highest paying state | Michigan | - |
| Best paying company | Capgemini | - |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | - |
There are a few differences between a medical representative and a distribution sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Medical Representative | Distribution Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between medical representatives' and distribution sales representatives' demographics:
| Medical Representative | Distribution Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.2% Female, 54.8% | Male, 65.1% Female, 34.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 6% | 6% |