Post job

Surgical sales representative vs inside sales associate

The differences between surgical sales representatives and inside sales associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a surgical sales representative, becoming an inside sales associate takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a surgical sales representative has an average salary of $73,379, which is higher than the $40,687 average annual salary of an inside sales associate.

The top three skills for a surgical sales representative include medical sales, product knowledge and GYN. The most important skills for an inside sales associate are inside sales, sales associates, and strong customer service.

Surgical sales representative vs inside sales associate overview

Surgical Sales RepresentativeInside Sales Associate
Yearly salary$73,379$40,687
Hourly rate$35.28$19.56
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs124,729320,863
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4747
Years of experience24

What does a surgical sales representative do?

A surgical sales representative is responsible for selling surgical devices for health care facilities with cost-efficient offers but high-quality standards. Surgical sales representatives negotiate contracts with existing and potential clients by discussing the features and benefits of their products that would attract the clients' purchasing decisions. They also manage their business proposals by sending out e-mail campaigns or personally visiting the clients' area. A surgical sales representative must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in identifying the recent medical technology trends that would generate more revenue resources for the business.

What does an inside sales associate do?

An inside sales associate is responsible for selling the company's goods and services through remote communication. Inside sales associates make calls to potential customers, demonstrate the products' features, take orders, process payments, and inform the customers of the delivery details. They strategize the most effective sales pitches to attract the customers on purchasing more services that would generate revenues and increase the company's profitability and brand image. An inside sales associate also supports the marketing team in developing marketing campaigns and promotional offers depending on customer demands and requests.

Surgical sales representative vs inside sales associate salary

Surgical sales representatives and inside sales associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Surgical Sales RepresentativeInside Sales Associate
Average salary$73,379$40,687
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $113,000Between $30,000 And $54,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-MSCI
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between surgical sales representative and inside sales associate education

There are a few differences between a surgical sales representative and an inside sales associate in terms of educational background:

Surgical Sales RepresentativeInside Sales Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Surgical sales representative vs inside sales associate demographics

Here are the differences between surgical sales representatives' and inside sales associates' demographics:

Surgical Sales RepresentativeInside Sales Associate
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 66.6% Female, 33.4%Male, 57.3% Female, 42.7%
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, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between surgical sales representative and inside sales associate duties and responsibilities

Surgical sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage products in gastroenterology, cardiology, endocrinology, psychiatry, rheumatology, and OB-GYN categories.
  • Develop relationships with surgeons and other appropriate personnel within the spine product environment.
  • Recognize as a subject matter expert with insight into optimal equipment for treating patients with respiratory conditions and sleeping disorders.
  • Promote pharmaceutical drugs for the treatment of allergies, hypertension, BPH, dementia, chronic bronchitis.
  • Promote Merck's asthma/allergy medication to pulmonology, allergy, otolaryngology and pediatric offices.

Inside sales associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage individual sales activities by developing highly effective, communications focuse relationship with multiple sales channels.
  • Provide awareness to customers of the benefits of moving to a cloud platform for intra/customer facing web applications.
  • Develop a standardize, customize CRM system to track sales and marketing ROI that link into operational and financial ERP systems.
  • Calculate roofing amounts/square footage etc.
  • Maintain cleanliness and organization of stockroom shelves.
  • Conduct effective outbound telemarketing calls to potential and existing clients.
  • Show more

Surgical sales representative vs inside sales associate skills

Common surgical sales representative skills
  • Medical Sales, 13%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • GYN, 8%
  • Surgical Procedures, 8%
  • Product Portfolio, 7%
  • Territory Sales, 7%
Common inside sales associate skills
  • Inside Sales, 13%
  • Sales Associates, 7%
  • Strong Customer Service, 6%
  • Sales Process, 5%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
  • Sales Floor, 5%