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Specialty representative vs district sales representative

The differences between specialty representatives and district sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a specialty representative, becoming a district sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a district sales representative has an average salary of $52,283, which is higher than the $49,201 average annual salary of a specialty representative.

The top three skills for a specialty representative include patients, oncology and dermatology. The most important skills for a district sales representative are territory sales, CRM, and sales presentations.

Specialty representative vs district sales representative overview

Specialty RepresentativeDistrict Sales Representative
Yearly salary$49,201$52,283
Hourly rate$23.65$25.14
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs50,435229,754
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4747
Years of experience24

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.

What does a district sales representative do?

District sales representatives are professionals who are responsible for selling the products and services of a company through product education, training, and product presentations. These representatives must work with team members to identify opportunities within their sales territory so that they can increase revenue. They should assist the district manager in presenting sales reports while aiding their customers with inventory management responsibilities. District sales representatives must also attend all business-related trade shows to represent their company.

Specialty representative vs district sales representative salary

Specialty representatives and district sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Specialty RepresentativeDistrict Sales Representative
Average salary$49,201$52,283
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $92,000Between $36,000 And $75,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between specialty representative and district sales representative education

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

Specialty RepresentativeDistrict Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Specialty representative vs district sales representative demographics

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

Specialty RepresentativeDistrict Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 47.7% Female, 52.3%Male, 76.7% Female, 23.3%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between specialty representative and district sales representative duties and responsibilities

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

District sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage and create all content distribute via various social media outlets: Facebook, twitter, feedback blogs, etc.
  • Maintain up-to-date customer records and reports of business transactions; assist in collection of past due accounts via CRM software.
  • Market and sell an innovative customer relationship management (CRM) geographical information (GIS) system software product statewide.
  • Distribute product samples in accordance with approve sampling guidelines and marketing literature to physicians and other healthcare providers.
  • Calculate costs and benefits of alternative actions or solutions to establish visibility and ROI.

Specialty representative vs district sales representative skills

Common specialty representative skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Oncology, 10%
  • Dermatology, 8%
  • Neurology, 6%
  • Educational Programs, 6%
  • Endocrinology, 5%
Common district sales representative skills
  • Territory Sales, 12%
  • CRM, 10%
  • Sales Presentations, 9%
  • Cold Calls, 8%
  • Trade Shows, 8%
  • Culinary, 7%