Scientific consultant vs specialty sales representative

The differences between scientific consultants 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 scientific consultant and a specialty sales representative. Additionally, a scientific consultant has an average salary of $82,034, which is higher than the $67,605 average annual salary of a specialty sales representative.

The top three skills for a scientific consultant include SQL, R and FDA. The most important skills for a specialty sales representative are patients, product knowledge, and territory management.

Scientific consultant vs specialty sales representative overview

	Scientific Consultant	Specialty Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$82,034	$67,605
Hourly rate	$39.44	$32.50
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	13,980	174,608
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 86%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	2	2

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 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.

Scientific consultant vs specialty sales representative salary

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

	Scientific Consultant	Specialty Sales Representative
Average salary	$82,034	$67,605
Salary range	Between $51,000 And $131,000	Between $40,000 And $113,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	-
Highest paying state	California	-
Best paying company	Booz Allen Hamilton	-
Best paying industry	Technology	-

Differences between scientific consultant and specialty sales representative education

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

	Scientific Consultant	Specialty Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	Bachelor's Degree, 86%
Most common major	Biology	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Scientific consultant vs specialty sales representative demographics

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

	Scientific Consultant	Specialty Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0%	Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1%
Race ratio	Black 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, 13.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between scientific consultant and specialty sales 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 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.

Scientific consultant vs specialty sales representative skills

Common scientific consultant skills

SQL, 73%
R, 7%
FDA, 4%
Laboratory Procedures, 3%
Experimental Design, 2%
Scientific Journals, 2%

Common specialty sales representative skills

Patients, 14%
Product Knowledge, 9%
Territory Management, 7%
Neurology, 6%
Work Ethic, 6%
Medical Sales, 5%

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Scientific Consultant
Scientific Consultant vs Specialty Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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