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Pharmaceutical representative vs specialty representative

The differences between pharmaceutical representatives and specialty 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 pharmaceutical representative and a specialty representative. Additionally, a pharmaceutical representative has an average salary of $66,166, which is higher than the $49,201 average annual salary of a specialty representative.

The top three skills for a pharmaceutical representative include pharmaceutical products, territory management and medical professionals. The most important skills for a specialty representative are patients, oncology, and dermatology.

Pharmaceutical representative vs specialty representative overview

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeSpecialty Representative
Yearly salary$66,166$49,201
Hourly rate$31.81$23.65
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs51,95650,435
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

Pharmaceutical representative vs specialty representative salary

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

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeSpecialty Representative
Average salary$66,166$49,201
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $103,000Between $26,000 And $92,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between pharmaceutical representative and specialty representative education

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

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeSpecialty Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Pharmaceutical representative vs specialty representative demographics

Here are the differences between pharmaceutical representatives' and specialty representatives' demographics:

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeSpecialty Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 44.3% Female, 55.7%Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between pharmaceutical representative and specialty representative duties and responsibilities

Pharmaceutical representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage and promote cardiovascular and respiratory products to local cardiologist, endocrinologists & allergists.
  • Manage Santa Rosa/San Francisco territories, marketing and selling respiratory, urology, cardiology to pharmacies and primary care physicians.
  • Collaborate with institution, cardiology, and diabetes specialists to increase penetration and productivity in hospital and endocrinology.
  • Complete extensive training in disease states such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, allergy, neurology and pain management.
  • Promote pharmaceuticals in the anti-microbial, neurology and gastroenterology markets.
  • Conduct discussions for a new drug for the treatment of hypertension.
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Specialty representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage the strategic planning and territory development of neurology accounts.
  • Manage the development, productivity and utilization of local, regional and national speakers for hyperlipidemia and hypertension.
  • Attract and build strong advocates within large cardiology groups by building a reputation on integrity, product knowledge and accountability.
  • Develop and influence neurology and psychiatry opinion leaders by organizing medical education events, residency and speaker programs.
  • Present in-services for healthcare teams in surgery, ICU and GI settings.
  • Work with key colorectal surgeons and anesthesiologists to prepare for the launch of Entereg.
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Pharmaceutical representative vs specialty representative skills

Common pharmaceutical representative skills
  • Pharmaceutical Products, 17%
  • Territory Management, 13%
  • Medical Professionals, 7%
  • Market Share Growth, 6%
  • Neurology, 5%
  • Sales Growth, 5%
Common specialty representative skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Oncology, 10%
  • Dermatology, 8%
  • Neurology, 6%
  • Educational Programs, 6%
  • Endocrinology, 5%