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The differences between surgical sales representatives and medical 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 surgical sales representative and a medical sales representative. Additionally, a medical sales representative has an average salary of $74,079, which is higher than the $73,379 average annual salary of a surgical sales representative.
The top three skills for a surgical sales representative include medical sales, product knowledge and GYN. The most important skills for a medical sales representative are patients, medical sales, and customer service.
| Surgical Sales Representative | Medical Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $73,379 | $74,079 |
| Hourly rate | $35.28 | $35.61 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 124,729 | 206,149 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A medical sales representative, also known as a pharmaceutical sales representative, is an individual who is responsible for selling and promoting medications and medical equipment. Medical sales representatives set appointments with doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals so that they can promote their company's medical supplies. They are required to build and maintain relationships with their customers so that they can encourage repeat purchases. Medical sales representatives should obtain a bachelor's degree in nursing, pharmacy, life sciences, or a related field.
Surgical sales representatives and medical sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Surgical Sales Representative | Medical Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $73,379 | $74,079 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $113,000 | Between $45,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Intuitive Surgical |
| Best paying industry | - | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a surgical sales representative and a medical sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Surgical Sales Representative | Medical Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 82% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between surgical sales representatives' and medical sales representatives' demographics:
| Surgical Sales Representative | Medical Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.6% Female, 33.4% | Male, 51.3% Female, 48.7% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 13.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |