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Therapeutic specialist vs pharmaceutical sales representative

The differences between therapeutic specialists and pharmaceutical 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 therapeutic specialist and a pharmaceutical sales representative. Additionally, a pharmaceutical sales representative has an average salary of $68,571, which is higher than the $35,912 average annual salary of a therapeutic specialist.

The top three skills for a therapeutic specialist include patients, disease state and healthcare professionals. The most important skills for a pharmaceutical sales representative are patients, pharmaceutical products, and develop strong relationships.

Therapeutic specialist vs pharmaceutical sales representative overview

Therapeutic SpecialistPharmaceutical Sales Representative
Yearly salary$35,912$68,571
Hourly rate$17.27$32.97
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs2,151102,935
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

What does a therapeutic specialist do?

A therapeutic specialist supports the Intensive Therapeutic Care teams to provide quality care for children and young people who have experienced abuse, neglect, or trauma, helping them to meet their goals. They work closely with case managers to ensure decisions are made by guiding. It is part of their varied tasks to do an assessment, transition and planning for children and young people entering short-term placement. In addition, they develop transition plans for children or young people to exit into permanent pathways in collaboration with stakeholders.

What does a pharmaceutical sales representative do?

The job of pharmaceutical sales representatives is to inform and educate doctors about a company's medical and pharmaceutical products. They serve as the link between a company and healthcare professionals to hit sales targets. They have varied responsibilities, including assessing clients' needs and presenting suitable products, delivering product samples, and working sales teams to develop and implement brand strategies. This role's qualifications include relevant work experience, excellent communication, sales, negotiation skills, and a bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

Therapeutic specialist vs pharmaceutical sales representative salary

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

Therapeutic SpecialistPharmaceutical Sales Representative
Average salary$35,912$68,571
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $52,000Between $42,000 And $110,000
Highest paying City-Boston, MA
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Eli Lilly and Company
Best paying industry-Pharmaceutical

Differences between therapeutic specialist and pharmaceutical sales representative education

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

Therapeutic SpecialistPharmaceutical Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Therapeutic specialist vs pharmaceutical sales representative demographics

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

Therapeutic SpecialistPharmaceutical Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 45.4% Female, 54.6%Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between therapeutic specialist and pharmaceutical sales representative duties and responsibilities

Therapeutic specialist example responsibilities.

  • Lead product launch of dermatology sales for Nucort and Halog
  • Manage educational speaker programs for physicians, nurses and pharmacists, introducing new oncology products.
  • Develop and maintain repeat clientele in a competitive cardiology sales market.
  • Value add programs for psychiatry departments within each assign hospital and clinic.
  • Diversify customer base by launching a variety of new products in allergy, otolaryngology, psychiatry, and pulmonary arenas.
  • Specialize in cardiology and endocrinology prescription products.
  • Show more

Pharmaceutical sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage and establish relationships within specialty urology and neurology markets to drive new and existing therapies.
  • Demonstrate strong teamwork skills by partnering with Novartis counterparts and other pharmaceutical consultants to achieve company and individual goals.
  • Manage Santa Rosa/San Francisco territories, marketing and selling respiratory, urology, cardiology to pharmacies and primary care physicians.
  • Retail sales division promoting drugs in gastroenterology, endocrinology, pain management and infectious disease.
  • Call on and maintain relationships with primary care physicians, cardiologists, nephrologists, internists, gastroenterologists, and endocrinologists.
  • Call on primary care physicians, cardiologists, neurologists, endocrinologists, and vascular surgeons.
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Therapeutic specialist vs pharmaceutical sales representative skills

Common therapeutic specialist skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Disease State, 14%
  • Healthcare Professionals, 11%
  • Business Plan, 9%
  • Account Management, 8%
  • Medicaid, 7%
Common pharmaceutical sales representative skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Pharmaceutical Products, 8%
  • Develop Strong Relationships, 6%
  • Territory Management, 5%
  • FDA, 4%
  • Business Plan, 4%