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Scientific consultant vs specialty representative

The differences between scientific consultants 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 scientific consultant and a specialty representative. Additionally, a scientific consultant has an average salary of $82,034, which is higher than the $49,201 average annual salary of a specialty representative.

The top three skills for a scientific consultant include SQL, R and FDA. The most important skills for a specialty representative are patients, oncology, and dermatology.

Scientific consultant vs specialty representative overview

Scientific ConsultantSpecialty Representative
Yearly salary$82,034$49,201
Hourly rate$39.44$23.65
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs13,98050,435
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

What does a scientific consultant do?

A scientific consultant provides consultation services for scientific projects and research for implementation and enabling scientific missions to the customers. They strategize solutions for business or organizational problems as well as providing a fresh perspective and knowledge based on their expertise. Their duties and responsibilities include compiling and presenting information to the organization through reports.

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.

Scientific consultant vs specialty representative salary

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

Scientific ConsultantSpecialty Representative
Average salary$82,034$49,201
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $131,000Between $26,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyBooz Allen Hamilton-
Best paying industryTechnology-

Differences between scientific consultant and specialty representative education

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

Scientific ConsultantSpecialty Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Most common majorBiologyBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Scientific consultant vs specialty representative demographics

Here are the differences between scientific consultants' and specialty representatives' demographics:

Scientific ConsultantSpecialty Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 63.0% Female, 37.0%Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% 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 scientific consultant and specialty representative duties and responsibilities

Scientific consultant example responsibilities.

  • Provide SharePoint development and administration, budget and financial reporting; manage invoicing; and develop training manuals and user guides.
  • Define and document a new application architecture which load client databases with properly format data using in-house develop Java ETL applications.
  • Support regulatory submissions (ISSs, NDA), CDISC (SDTM, ADaM).

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.
  • Show more

Scientific consultant vs specialty representative skills

Common scientific consultant skills
  • SQL, 73%
  • R, 7%
  • FDA, 4%
  • Laboratory Procedures, 3%
  • Experimental Design, 2%
  • Scientific Journals, 2%
Common specialty representative skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Oncology, 10%
  • Dermatology, 8%
  • Neurology, 6%
  • Educational Programs, 6%
  • Endocrinology, 5%