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Specialty sales representative vs pharmaceutical sales specialist

The differences between specialty sales representatives and pharmaceutical sales specialists 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 sales representative and a pharmaceutical sales specialist. Additionally, a pharmaceutical sales specialist has an average salary of $73,003, which is higher than the $67,605 average annual salary of a specialty sales representative.

The top three skills for a specialty sales representative include patients, product knowledge and territory management. The most important skills for a pharmaceutical sales specialist are patients, sales territory, and diabetes.

Specialty sales representative vs pharmaceutical sales specialist overview

Specialty Sales RepresentativePharmaceutical Sales Specialist
Yearly salary$67,605$73,003
Hourly rate$32.50$35.10
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs174,60823,474
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 86%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

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.

What does a pharmaceutical sales specialist do?

A pharmaceutical sales specialist's primary duty is to reach out to pharmacies, medical facilities, and physicians to discuss the latest medical drugs in an effort to secure sales. Their responsibilities typically revolve around learning and understanding everything about the products that they are offering, traveling to different areas to deliver samples, and maintaining records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a pharmaceutical sales specialist, it is essential to create marketing materials and build positive relationships with clients to accomplish sales targets, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

Specialty sales representative vs pharmaceutical sales specialist salary

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

Specialty Sales RepresentativePharmaceutical Sales Specialist
Average salary$67,605$73,003
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $113,000Between $47,000 And $112,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Nevada
Best paying company-AstraZeneca
Best paying industry-Pharmaceutical

Differences between specialty sales representative and pharmaceutical sales specialist education

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

Specialty Sales RepresentativePharmaceutical Sales Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 86%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Specialty sales representative vs pharmaceutical sales specialist demographics

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

Specialty Sales RepresentativePharmaceutical Sales Specialist
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 50.9% Female, 49.1%Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between specialty sales representative and pharmaceutical sales specialist duties and responsibilities

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.
  • Show more

Pharmaceutical sales specialist example responsibilities.

  • Organize and lead Coumadin education programs through Kroger pharmacies.
  • Accomplish daily sales activities and goals while working in a pod setting.
  • Train and lead development of new hire personal in CSS and primary care.
  • Achieve all sales goals and exceed projected goals for Q4 2012 and Q1 2013 ,
  • Attain #5 and #8 rankings nationally for TRX and NRX volume, out of 175 representatives.
  • Achieve territory highs in TRX and NRX first month in field by delivering a solid patient/provider benefit sales presentation.
  • Show more

Specialty sales representative vs pharmaceutical sales specialist skills

Common specialty sales representative skills
  • Patients, 14%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Territory Management, 7%
  • Neurology, 6%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Medical Sales, 5%
Common pharmaceutical sales specialist skills
  • Patients, 33%
  • Sales Territory, 8%
  • Diabetes, 7%
  • Business Plan, 7%
  • Sales Strategies, 7%
  • Sales Performance, 5%