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The differences between professional healthcare representatives and medical 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 professional healthcare representative and a medical sales representative. Additionally, a medical sales representative has an average salary of $74,079, which is higher than the $37,042 average annual salary of a professional healthcare representative.
The top three skills for a professional healthcare representative include government agencies, patients and product portfolio. The most important skills for a medical sales representative are patients, medical sales, and customer service.
| Professional Healthcare Representative | Medical Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $37,042 | $74,079 |
| Hourly rate | $17.81 | $35.61 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 127,891 | 206,149 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Professional Healthcare representatives are sales employees who manage the company's healthcare products and healthcare client accounts. They are in charge of achieving the sales targets of the company. They form good relationships with clients and distributors to ensure continued business with them. They may visit their clients' office from time to time to check in on them and to provide samples of new products. Professional Healthcare Representatives should be updated on the latest trends in the healthcare industry, as well as new product releases related to their company's main business. They should also know all the pertinent details on the products they sell so they can answer their clients' questions.
A medical sales representative, also known as a pharmaceutical sales representative, is an individual who is responsible for selling and promoting medications and medical equipment. Medical sales representatives set appointments with doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals so that they can promote their company's medical supplies. They are required to build and maintain relationships with their customers so that they can encourage repeat purchases. Medical sales representatives should obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing, pharmacy, life sciences, or a related field.
Professional healthcare representatives and medical sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Professional Healthcare Representative | Medical Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $37,042 | $74,079 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $59,000 | Between $45,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | Torrance, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Cognizant | Intuitive Surgical |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a professional healthcare representative and a medical sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Professional Healthcare Representative | Medical Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between professional healthcare representatives' and medical sales representatives' demographics:
| Professional Healthcare Representative | Medical Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.7% Female, 58.3% | Male, 51.3% Female, 48.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.2% 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% |