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Surgical sales representative vs specialty representative

The differences between surgical sales representatives and specialty 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 specialty representative. Additionally, a surgical sales representative has an average salary of $73,379, which is higher than the $49,201 average annual salary of a specialty representative.

The top three skills for a surgical sales representative include medical sales, product knowledge and GYN. The most important skills for a specialty representative are patients, oncology, and dermatology.

Surgical sales representative vs specialty representative overview

Surgical Sales RepresentativeSpecialty Representative
Yearly salary$73,379$49,201
Hourly rate$35.28$23.65
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs124,72950,435
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

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 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.

Surgical sales representative vs specialty representative salary

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

Surgical Sales RepresentativeSpecialty Representative
Average salary$73,379$49,201
Salary rangeBetween $47,000 And $113,000Between $26,000 And $92,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between surgical sales representative and specialty representative education

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

Surgical Sales RepresentativeSpecialty Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Surgical sales representative vs specialty representative demographics

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

Surgical Sales RepresentativeSpecialty Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 66.6% Female, 33.4%Male, 47.7% Female, 52.3%
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, 14.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between surgical sales representative and specialty representative 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.

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

Surgical sales representative vs specialty representative skills

Common surgical sales representative skills
  • Medical Sales, 13%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • GYN, 8%
  • Surgical Procedures, 8%
  • Product Portfolio, 7%
  • Territory Sales, 7%
Common specialty representative skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Oncology, 10%
  • Dermatology, 8%
  • Neurology, 6%
  • Educational Programs, 6%
  • Endocrinology, 5%