Pharmaceutical sales representative vs specialty representative

The differences between pharmaceutical sales 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 sales representative and a specialty representative. Additionally, a pharmaceutical sales representative has an average salary of $68,571, which is higher than the $49,201 average annual salary of a specialty representative.

The top three skills for a pharmaceutical sales representative include patients, pharmaceutical products and develop strong relationships. The most important skills for a specialty representative are patients, oncology, and dermatology.

Pharmaceutical sales representative vs specialty representative overview

	Pharmaceutical Sales Representative	Specialty Representative
Yearly salary	$68,571	$49,201
Hourly rate	$32.97	$23.65
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	102,935	50,435
Job satisfaction	5	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 85%	Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	2	2

What does a pharmaceutical sales representative do?

The job of pharmaceutical sales representatives is to inform and educate doctors about a company's medical and pharmaceutical products. They serve as the link between a company and healthcare professionals to hit sales targets. They have varied responsibilities, including assessing clients' needs and presenting suitable products, delivering product samples, and working sales teams to develop and implement brand strategies. This role's qualifications include relevant work experience, excellent communication, sales, negotiation skills, and a bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

What does a specialty representative do?

A specialty representative is responsible for selling specific goods and services to target customers through remote communication or site visits, depending on business requirements and client needs. Specialty representatives assist the marketing and sales team in delivering high-quality sales strategies and promotional techniques to attract customers, identifying their needs by researching industry trends to drive more revenue resources and achieve sales goals and objectives. A specialty representative should have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns, resolving complaints, and updating their accounts within the database.

Pharmaceutical sales representative vs specialty representative salary

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

	Pharmaceutical Sales Representative	Specialty Representative
Average salary	$68,571	$49,201
Salary range	Between $42,000 And $110,000	Between $26,000 And $92,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	-
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	-
Best paying company	Eli Lilly and Company	-
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	-

Differences between pharmaceutical sales representative and specialty representative education

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

	Pharmaceutical Sales Representative	Specialty Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 85%	Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Pharmaceutical sales representative vs specialty representative demographics

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

	Pharmaceutical Sales Representative	Specialty Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0%	Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.3% 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 Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between pharmaceutical sales representative and specialty representative duties and responsibilities

Pharmaceutical sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage and establish relationships within specialty urology and neurology markets to drive new and existing therapies.
Demonstrate strong teamwork skills by partnering with Novartis counterparts and other pharmaceutical consultants to achieve company and individual goals.
Manage Santa Rosa/San Francisco territories, marketing and selling respiratory, urology, cardiology to pharmacies and primary care physicians.
Retail sales division promoting drugs in gastroenterology, endocrinology, pain management and infectious disease.
Call on and maintain relationships with primary care physicians, cardiologists, nephrologists, internists, gastroenterologists, and endocrinologists.
Call on primary care physicians, cardiologists, neurologists, endocrinologists, and vascular surgeons.

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.

Pharmaceutical sales representative vs specialty representative skills

Common pharmaceutical sales representative skills

Patients, 21%
Pharmaceutical Products, 8%
Develop Strong Relationships, 6%
Territory Management, 5%
FDA, 4%
Business Plan, 4%

Common specialty representative skills

Patients, 27%
Oncology, 10%
Dermatology, 8%
Neurology, 6%
Educational Programs, 6%
Endocrinology, 5%

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Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative vs Specialty Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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