Medical sales jobs perhaps are best known by the familiar pharmaceutical representative jobs which are usually $100k plus jobs but there are other aspects to medical that are just as lucrative but not as well publicized. Less well known are medical device sales career and medical supplies sales jobs. These sales jobs can be well compensated and require different types of sales representatives to be successful in their field.
The medical sales representative jobs for a pharmaceutical company will usually be someone with a degree in chemistry, biology, life sciences or a strong medical background. Their product line will change frequently and they must be able to memorize and understand the details of the pharmaceutical products they sell and be able to answer the questions of physicians about the particular product. These are jobs in sales where a territory is assigned and travel is usually essential. An undergraduate degree in life sciences is usually required of the individual.
Jobs in medical device sales career or equipment sales are somewhat different in that the product line does not usually change regularly. The individuals selling these products must be well versed on the devices and how they work in order to sell them effectively. Devices, which are low investment, may require a different type of sales person to a sales representative whose product line is medical equipment, which requires a significant investment. Medical equipment sales requires an investment of time on the part of the sales representative as there is no one person in charge of buying equipment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars instead it must go through an approval process.
On the other hand, jobs as a medical device and supply sales person require less investment in each client but then again the client can often change vendors easily if dissatisfied with the product. The medical supply sales jobs will require the representative have many clients as opposed to the medical equipment sales person who must invest a lot of time in a few clients and speak to multiple managers in the approval process.
Both types of medical sales career require excellent sales representatives and most will require a bachelor degree though with many companies work experience can be substituted. When selling medical devices, equipment, or pharmaceuticals it is not enough to memorize a brochure or a sales sheet, the successful salesperson must also understand the product and the needs of the physician, hospital or individual as well.
The average salaries of medical sales jobs are distinctly dependent on what the individual represents. Pharmaceutical sales jobs average about $88,000 at the entry level. Medical device and supplies jobs average $66,000 but as with every job that depends on the territory and the exact product.
