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Pharmaceutical sales person vs specialty sales representative

The differences between pharmaceutical sales people 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 sales person and a specialty sales representative. Additionally, a pharmaceutical sales person has an average salary of $130,507, which is higher than the $67,605 average annual salary of a specialty sales representative.

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

Pharmaceutical sales person vs specialty sales representative overview

Pharmaceutical Sales PersonSpecialty Sales Representative
Yearly salary$130,507$67,605
Hourly rate$62.74$32.50
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs117,428174,608
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 86%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

What does a pharmaceutical sales person do?

Pharmaceutical salespersons must have a wide range of skills, such as proven work in pharmaceutical or medical sales, familiarity with the latest medical issues, and knowledge of programs like MS Office. Paid at $92K per year, those who seek this career will be required to educate physicians on new pharmaceutical developments and connect providers with new knowledge, drugs, and treatments for cutting-edge patient care.

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.

Pharmaceutical sales person vs specialty sales representative salary

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

Pharmaceutical Sales PersonSpecialty Sales Representative
Average salary$130,507$67,605
Salary rangeBetween $68,000 And $249,000Between $40,000 And $113,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between pharmaceutical sales person and specialty sales representative education

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

Pharmaceutical Sales PersonSpecialty Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 86%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Pharmaceutical sales person vs specialty sales representative demographics

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

Pharmaceutical Sales PersonSpecialty Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 50.2% Female, 49.8%Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.4% 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 sales person and specialty sales representative duties and responsibilities

Pharmaceutical sales person example responsibilities.

  • Manage Santa Rosa/San Francisco territories, marketing and selling respiratory, urology, cardiology to pharmacies and primary care physicians.
  • Present, negotiate, and close hospital contracts for antibiotics.
  • Maintain inventory of samples on a monthly basis for reporting to FDA.
  • Collaborate with NP's and RN's in charge of Coumadin clinics to ensure proper patient use of Coumadin.
  • Collaborate with hospital formulary committees to introduce new products.
  • Integrate formulary knowledge and assistance program information for exceptional customer experience
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Pharmaceutical sales person vs specialty sales representative skills

Common pharmaceutical sales person skills
  • Pharmaceutical Products, 18%
  • Sales Territory, 15%
  • Pharmaceutical Sales, 9%
  • Sales Growth, 8%
  • Medical Sales, 8%
  • Healthcare Professionals, 6%
Common specialty sales representative skills
  • Patients, 14%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Territory Management, 7%
  • Neurology, 6%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Medical Sales, 5%