Post job

Medical sales representative vs specialty sales representative

The differences between medical sales representatives and specialty sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a medical sales representative and a specialty sales representative. Additionally, a medical sales representative has an average salary of $74,079, which is higher than the $67,605 average annual salary of a specialty sales representative.

The top three skills for a medical sales representative include patients, medical sales and customer service. The most important skills for a specialty sales representative are patients, product knowledge, and territory management.

Medical sales representative vs specialty sales representative overview

Medical Sales RepresentativeSpecialty Sales Representative
Yearly salary$74,079$67,605
Hourly rate$35.61$32.50
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs206,149174,608
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 86%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

What does a medical sales representative do?

A medical sales representative, also known as a pharmaceutical sales representative, is an individual who is responsible for selling and promoting medications and medical equipment. Medical sales representatives set appointments with doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals so that they can promote their company's medical supplies. They are required to build and maintain relationships with their customers so that they can encourage repeat purchases. Medical sales representatives should obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing, pharmacy, life sciences, or a related field.

What does a specialty sales representative do?

Specialty sales representatives are responsible for selling products and services using firm arguments to possible clients. Also, they perform a cost-benefit study of present and prospective clients. These representatives support positive business relationships to guarantee future sales. Their main role is to give complete and correct solutions to clients to enhance top-line revenue progress, profitability, and investment levels. Their duties include reaching out to customer leads through telemarketing as well as maximize customer satisfaction by efficiently providing resolutions to their issues and complaints.

Medical sales representative vs specialty sales representative salary

Medical sales representatives and specialty sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Sales RepresentativeSpecialty Sales Representative
Average salary$74,079$67,605
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $121,000Between $40,000 And $113,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyIntuitive Surgical-
Best paying industryPharmaceutical-

Differences between medical sales representative and specialty sales representative education

There are a few differences between a medical sales representative and a specialty sales representative in terms of educational background:

Medical Sales RepresentativeSpecialty Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 82%Bachelor's Degree, 86%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Medical sales representative vs specialty sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between medical sales representatives' and specialty sales representatives' demographics:

Medical Sales RepresentativeSpecialty Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 51.3% Female, 48.7%Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage6%6%

Differences between medical sales representative and specialty sales representative duties and responsibilities

Medical sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Lead the sales team in number of CPAP's sell monthly.
  • Work closely with manage care plans, Medicare and Medicaid to ensure full coverage of all products in portfolio
  • Follow policies and procedures to accomplish responsibilities including following HIPAA regulations.
  • Develop customer relationships and achieve sales objectives for product portfolio consisting of CNS products.
  • Present clinical information and lead discussions on various types of treatment for hypertension and acute coronary syndrome.
  • Utilize CRM database to manage and track prospect interaction to ensure accurate documentation of window requirements and ongoing communication.
  • Show more

Specialty sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Utilize CRM system and other applications to manage all sales within the renewal stages.
  • Collaborate with management, marketing, and training departments to achieve the common goals of Merck.
  • Manage allocated resources and accountable for pharmaceutical samples in accordance with FDA and PDMA guidelines; responsible for expense management.
  • Manage tough relationships with key reimbursement decision-makers in hospitals, renal and oncology clinics throughout territory.
  • Manage the development, productivity and utilization of local, regional and national speakers for hyperlipidemia and hypertension.
  • Perform several educational sales presentations to large audiences on appropriate pain management for patients.
  • Show more

Medical sales representative vs specialty sales representative skills

Common medical sales representative skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Medical Sales, 16%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Sales Territory, 6%
  • Product Knowledge, 6%
  • Ventilation, 5%
Common specialty sales representative skills
  • Patients, 14%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Territory Management, 7%
  • Neurology, 6%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Medical Sales, 5%