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Pharmaceutical representative vs specialty sales representative

The differences between pharmaceutical representatives and specialty 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 pharmaceutical representative and a specialty sales representative. Additionally, a specialty sales representative has an average salary of $67,605, which is higher than the $66,166 average annual salary of a pharmaceutical representative.

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

Pharmaceutical representative vs specialty sales representative overview

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeSpecialty Sales Representative
Yearly salary$66,166$67,605
Hourly rate$31.81$32.50
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs51,956174,608
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 86%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

Pharmaceutical representative vs specialty sales representative salary

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

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeSpecialty Sales Representative
Average salary$66,166$67,605
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $103,000Between $40,000 And $113,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between pharmaceutical representative and specialty sales representative education

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

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeSpecialty Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 86%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Pharmaceutical representative vs specialty sales representative demographics

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

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeSpecialty Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 44.3% Female, 55.7%Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1%
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, 13.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between pharmaceutical representative and specialty sales 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 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.
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Pharmaceutical representative vs specialty sales 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 sales representative skills
  • Patients, 14%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Territory Management, 7%
  • Neurology, 6%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Medical Sales, 5%