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Specialty sales representative vs sales representative

The differences between specialty sales representatives and 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 sales representative, becoming a sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a specialty sales representative has an average salary of $67,605, which is higher than the $56,591 average annual salary of a sales representative.

The top three skills for a specialty sales representative include patients, product knowledge and territory management. The most important skills for a sales representative are sales process, product knowledge, and customer service.

Specialty sales representative vs sales representative overview

Specialty Sales RepresentativeSales Representative
Yearly salary$67,605$56,591
Hourly rate$32.50$27.21
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs174,608205,456
Job satisfaction-4.33
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 86%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4747
Years of experience24

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 sales representative do?

Sales representatives primarily sell the company's products and services to businesses or organizations. They should be adept at closing out sales, negotiating, and providing customer service. They should be knowledgeable about the products or services of the manufacturer or producer they represent. They must also have strong analytical skills that would help them in coming up with cost-benefit analysis in assessing the current roster of clients and even prospective ones. Sales representatives should also be able to maintain good working relationships with all involved stakeholders, especially clients.

Specialty sales representative vs sales representative salary

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

Specialty Sales RepresentativeSales Representative
Average salary$67,605$56,591
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $113,000Between $33,000 And $94,000
Highest paying City-Boston, MA
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry-Pharmaceutical

Differences between specialty sales representative and sales representative education

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

Specialty Sales RepresentativeSales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 86%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Specialty sales representative vs sales representative demographics

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

Specialty Sales RepresentativeSales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 50.9% Female, 49.1%Male, 58.1% Female, 41.9%
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, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between specialty sales representative and sales representative 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

Sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage prospective leads and existing accounts through a CRM platform to accurately forecast revenue and develop long-term business partnerships.
  • Manage and create all content distribute via various social media outlets: Facebook, twitter, feedback blogs, etc.
  • Search for procurement contracts, attend trade shows, design flyers, postcards, etc.
  • Utilize POS sales software to maintain monetary sales information produce reports for organizational review.
  • Develop and maintain business relationships with businesses and policyholders using establish methods such as customer relationship management CRM.
  • Handle administrative and sales duties as Jr.
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Specialty sales representative vs sales representative skills

Common specialty sales representative skills
  • Patients, 14%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Territory Management, 7%
  • Neurology, 6%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • Medical Sales, 5%
Common sales representative skills
  • Sales Process, 9%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Business Development, 6%
  • Sales REP, 5%