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Medical science liaison vs sales representative

The differences between medical science liaisons and sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a medical science liaison and a sales representative. Additionally, a medical science liaison has an average salary of $145,718, which is higher than the $56,591 average annual salary of a sales representative.

The top three skills for a medical science liaison include patients, medical affairs and MSL. The most important skills for a sales representative are sales process, product knowledge, and customer service.

Medical science liaison vs sales representative overview

Medical Science LiaisonSales Representative
Yearly salary$145,718$56,591
Hourly rate$70.06$27.21
Growth rate17%4%
Number of jobs57,208205,456
Job satisfaction-4.33
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4147
Years of experience44

What does a medical science liaison do?

A medical science liaison (MSL) is a scientific professional who facilitates a working relationship between healthcare companies and leading physicians, researchers, and clinicians. Also referred to as key opinion leaders (KOL), medical science liaisons represent their company to the decision-makers in the medical community as well as to investors and government regulatory agencies. They analyze clinical trends and monitor the scientific literature for new developments in the medical community. Medical science liaisons also prepare medical samples and data to investigate the causes of chronic diseases, pathogens, and toxicity.

What does a sales representative do?

Sales representatives primarily sell the company's products and services to businesses or organizations. They should be adept at closing out sales, negotiating, and providing customer service. They should be knowledgeable about the products or services of the manufacturer or producer they represent. They must also have strong analytical skills that would help them in coming up with cost-benefit analysis in assessing the current roster of clients and even prospective ones. Sales representatives should also be able to maintain good working relationships with all involved stakeholders, especially clients.

Medical science liaison vs sales representative salary

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

Medical Science LiaisonSales Representative
Average salary$145,718$56,591
Salary rangeBetween $59,000 And $359,000Between $33,000 And $94,000
Highest paying CityJackson, TNBoston, MA
Highest paying stateTennesseeMassachusetts
Best paying companySaint Luke's Health SystemGoogle
Best paying industryManufacturingPharmaceutical

Differences between medical science liaison and sales representative education

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

Medical Science LiaisonSales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorNursingBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Medical science liaison vs sales representative demographics

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

Medical Science LiaisonSales Representative
Average age4147
Gender ratioMale, 41.6% Female, 58.4%Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 23.4% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between medical science liaison and sales representative duties and responsibilities

Medical science liaison example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and analyze medical necessity review of manage care appeals.
  • Develop and manage KOLs resulting in presentations to regional, national and international meetings.
  • Utilize extensive knowledge of medical terminology, ICD-9, HCPCS and CPT coding along with analysis and processing of Medicare claims.
  • Provide pre-launch field support for a novel diabetes compound.
  • Provide drug information to medical professionals and sales force within FDA guidelines.
  • Join Clementine as a trainee BMS and successfully complete training and registration.
  • Show more

Sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage prospective leads and existing accounts through a CRM platform to accurately forecast revenue and develop long-term business partnerships.
  • Manage and create all content distribute via various social media outlets: Facebook, twitter, feedback blogs, etc.
  • Search for procurement contracts, attend trade shows, design flyers, postcards, etc.
  • Utilize POS sales software to maintain monetary sales information produce reports for organizational review.
  • Develop and maintain business relationships with businesses and policyholders using establish methods such as customer relationship management CRM.
  • Handle administrative and sales duties as Jr.
  • Show more

Medical science liaison vs sales representative skills

Common medical science liaison skills
  • Patients, 11%
  • Medical Affairs, 9%
  • MSL, 7%
  • Medical Science, 6%
  • Pharmaceutical Industry, 5%
  • Internal Stakeholders, 4%
Common sales representative skills
  • Sales Process, 9%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Business Development, 6%
  • Sales REP, 5%

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