Outside sales representative vs specialty sales representative

The differences between outside sales representatives and specialty 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 specialty sales representative takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a specialty sales representative has an average salary of $67,605, 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 specialty sales representative are patients, product knowledge, and territory management.

Outside sales representative vs specialty sales representative overview

	Outside Sales Representative	Specialty Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$60,443	$67,605
Hourly rate	$29.06	$32.50
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	218,034	174,608
Job satisfaction	4.5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 86%
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 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.

Outside sales representative vs specialty sales representative salary

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

	Outside Sales Representative	Specialty Sales Representative
Average salary	$60,443	$67,605
Salary range	Between $41,000 And $87,000	Between $40,000 And $113,000
Highest paying City	Minneapolis, MN	-
Highest paying state	New Jersey	-
Best paying company	Microsoft	-
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	-

Differences between outside sales representative and specialty sales representative education

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

	Outside Sales Representative	Specialty Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 86%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred	University of Pennsylvania

Outside sales representative vs specialty sales representative demographics

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

	Outside Sales Representative	Specialty Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 71.5% Female, 28.5%	Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1%
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 specialty 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.

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.

Outside sales representative vs specialty 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 specialty sales representative skills

Patients, 14%
Product Knowledge, 9%
Territory Management, 7%
Neurology, 6%
Work Ethic, 6%
Medical Sales, 5%

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Outside Sales Representative
Outside Sales Representative vs Specialty Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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