Outside sales representative vs medical sales representative

The differences between outside sales representatives and medical sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an outside sales representative, becoming a medical sales representative takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a medical sales representative has an average salary of $74,079, which is higher than the $60,443 average annual salary of an outside sales representative.

The top three skills for an outside sales representative include customer service, work ethic and sales process. The most important skills for a medical sales representative are patients, medical sales, and customer service.

Outside sales representative vs medical sales representative overview

	Outside Sales Representative	Medical Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$60,443	$74,079
Hourly rate	$29.06	$35.61
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	218,034	206,149
Job satisfaction	4.5	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	2

What does an outside sales representative do?

An Outside Sales Representative specializes in customer service and relations, focusing on reaching sales targets through selling and networking with clients. Among the duties revolve around reaching out to customers through calls, email, or even arranging appointments, monitoring and keeping an organized record of sales, communicating with managers or supervisors, adhering to the company's policies and regulations, and keeping extensive knowledge about the brand and the trends. Besides building rapport with customers, it is also essential for an Outside Sales Representative to be proactive and create strategies to help meet the sales target.

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.

Outside sales representative vs medical sales representative salary

Outside sales representatives and medical sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Outside Sales Representative	Medical Sales Representative
Average salary	$60,443	$74,079
Salary range	Between $41,000 And $87,000	Between $45,000 And $121,000
Highest paying City	Minneapolis, MN	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	California
Best paying company	Microsoft	Intuitive Surgical
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Pharmaceutical

Differences between outside sales representative and medical sales representative education

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

	Outside Sales Representative	Medical Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 82%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	University of Pennsylvania

Outside sales representative vs medical sales representative demographics

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

	Outside Sales Representative	Medical Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 71.5% Female, 28.5%	Male, 51.3% Female, 48.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.6% 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 Percentage	6%	6%

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

Outside sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage and maintain a weekly quota for broadband, and other wireless products.
Utilize CRM database to manage and track prospect interaction to ensure accurate documentation of window requirements and ongoing communication.
Web dev, SEO, PPC etc . )
Participate in the launching and marketing of broadband internet in Orlando with great success.
Provide care, materials, and essential tools for doctors and nurses working on patients in the E.R.
Create and maintain successful business partnerships with customers by analyzing, meeting and understanding their needs and patients needs.

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.

Outside sales representative vs medical sales representative skills

Common outside sales representative skills

Customer Service, 17%
Work Ethic, 8%
Sales Process, 4%
Business Sales, 4%
Cold Calls, 4%
Product Knowledge, 4%

Common medical sales representative skills

Patients, 17%
Medical Sales, 16%
Customer Service, 9%
Sales Territory, 6%
Product Knowledge, 6%
Ventilation, 5%

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Outside Sales Representative
Outside Sales Representative vs Medical Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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