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Medical sales specialist vs pharmaceutical sales representative

The differences between medical sales specialists and pharmaceutical 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 specialist and a pharmaceutical sales representative. Additionally, a medical sales specialist has an average salary of $69,959, which is higher than the $68,571 average annual salary of a pharmaceutical sales representative.

The top three skills for a medical sales specialist include patients, medical devices and medical sales. The most important skills for a pharmaceutical sales representative are patients, pharmaceutical products, and develop strong relationships.

Medical sales specialist vs pharmaceutical sales representative overview

Medical Sales SpecialistPharmaceutical Sales Representative
Yearly salary$69,959$68,571
Hourly rate$33.63$32.97
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs76,398102,935
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

What does a medical sales specialist do?

A medical sales specialist is an individual who advertises, markets, and distributes a specific pharmaceutical product or medical equipment to medical establishments. Medical sales specialists must manage a network of independent representatives and maintain relationships with their clients to attain territory-specific sales goals. They develop marketing strategies and business sales plans to identify key growth areas and deliver short and long-term corporate objectives. Medical sales specialists should also conduct analyses on product and market trends to achieve and exceed sales goals.

What does a pharmaceutical sales representative do?

The job of pharmaceutical sales representatives is to inform and educate doctors about a company's medical and pharmaceutical products. They serve as the link between a company and healthcare professionals to hit sales targets. They have varied responsibilities, including assessing clients' needs and presenting suitable products, delivering product samples, and working sales teams to develop and implement brand strategies. This role's qualifications include relevant work experience, excellent communication, sales, negotiation skills, and a bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

Medical sales specialist vs pharmaceutical sales representative salary

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

Medical Sales SpecialistPharmaceutical Sales Representative
Average salary$69,959$68,571
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $102,000Between $42,000 And $110,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CABoston, MA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMassachusetts
Best paying companyMedlineEli Lilly and Company
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalPharmaceutical

Differences between medical sales specialist and pharmaceutical sales representative education

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

Medical Sales SpecialistPharmaceutical Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Medical sales specialist vs pharmaceutical sales representative demographics

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

Medical Sales SpecialistPharmaceutical Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 50.8% Female, 49.2%Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between medical sales specialist and pharmaceutical sales representative duties and responsibilities

Medical sales specialist example responsibilities.

  • Demonstrate strong teamwork skills by partnering with Novartis counterparts and other pharmaceutical consultants to achieve company and individual goals.
  • Coordinate memory screenings working primary care and neurology practices using Eisai develop tools to increase Alzheimer's awareness.
  • Increase market share of cardiology, endocrinology and antibiotic products in the Chicago region.
  • Train and educate referral sources and patients on Medicare coverage criteria guidelines.
  • Market and promote dermatology products to dermatologists and allergist in Raleigh market.
  • Secure business from a top-rate dermatology practice that have previously establish preferred vendors.
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Pharmaceutical sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage and establish relationships within specialty urology and neurology markets to drive new and existing therapies.
  • Demonstrate strong teamwork skills by partnering with Novartis counterparts and other pharmaceutical consultants to achieve company and individual goals.
  • Manage Santa Rosa/San Francisco territories, marketing and selling respiratory, urology, cardiology to pharmacies and primary care physicians.
  • Retail sales division promoting drugs in gastroenterology, endocrinology, pain management and infectious disease.
  • Call on and maintain relationships with primary care physicians, cardiologists, nephrologists, internists, gastroenterologists, and endocrinologists.
  • Call on primary care physicians, cardiologists, neurologists, endocrinologists, and vascular surgeons.
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Medical sales specialist vs pharmaceutical sales representative skills

Common medical sales specialist skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Medical Devices, 12%
  • Medical Sales, 10%
  • Product Knowledge, 7%
  • Capital Equipment, 7%
  • Sales Territory, 5%
Common pharmaceutical sales representative skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Pharmaceutical Products, 8%
  • Develop Strong Relationships, 6%
  • Territory Management, 5%
  • FDA, 4%
  • Business Plan, 4%