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Specialty representative vs technical sales representative

The differences between specialty representatives and technical 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 specialty representative and a technical sales representative. Additionally, a technical sales representative has an average salary of $71,310, 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 technical sales representative are sales process, business development, and sales support.

Specialty representative vs technical sales representative overview

Specialty RepresentativeTechnical Sales Representative
Yearly salary$49,201$71,310
Hourly rate$23.65$34.28
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs50,435237,456
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

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 technical sales representative do?

A technical sales representative is responsible for selling products and services by demonstrating the product's details and features to existing and potential clients. Technical sales representatives evaluate clients' needs and recommend solutions through the organization's technology-based products. They also assist with promotional offers and marketing campaigns to boost brand awareness and increase revenues and achieve profitability goals while ensuring the highest customer satisfaction. A technical sales representative must have excellent communication and customer service skills, handling customers' inquiries, and resolving complaints.

Specialty representative vs technical sales representative salary

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

Specialty RepresentativeTechnical Sales Representative
Average salary$49,201$71,310
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $92,000Between $39,000 And $129,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry--

Differences between specialty representative and technical sales representative education

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

Specialty RepresentativeTechnical Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Specialty representative vs technical sales representative demographics

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

Specialty RepresentativeTechnical Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 47.7% Female, 52.3%Male, 73.3% Female, 26.7%
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, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between specialty representative and technical 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

Technical sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Administer product and system design engineering support, prepare RFP responses, deliver presentations, and manage field support calls.
  • Manage and assist a vast customer base in the market for new roofing needs after a large hail storm in Lubbock.
  • Conduct sales, build orders, maintain cleanliness and ensure customer satisfaction.
  • Direct overall account customer relations and assist in OEM product development.
  • Maintain cleanliness provide exceptional customer satisfaction by assisting them in the selection of update fashion to complement their selection.
  • Document key sales activities in the company's customer relationship management (CRM) system.
  • Show more

Specialty representative vs technical sales representative skills

Common specialty representative skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Oncology, 10%
  • Dermatology, 8%
  • Neurology, 6%
  • Educational Programs, 6%
  • Endocrinology, 5%
Common technical sales representative skills
  • Sales Process, 23%
  • Business Development, 17%
  • Sales Support, 15%
  • Post Sales, 12%
  • Java, 5%
  • OEM, 3%