What Is a Medical Sales Representative?
Medical sales representatives are responsible for marketing medical products and services to hospitals, clinics and doctors' practices. These representatives are also known as medical equipment sales reps and can sell products or services to medical facilities. Although there are no general education requirements, employers may prefer candidates to hold a bachelor's degree from a related area.
| Degree Level | None specified; bachelor's degree may be preferred |
| Degree Field(s) | Marketing, communication, customer service, or medical office management |
| Licensure/Certification | Voluntary certification available |
| Key Skills | Strong customer relations skills and continual awareness of changing medical developments |
| Job Outlook (2019-2029) | 4% for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives |
| Median Annual Salary (2019) | $81,020 for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Medical Sales Rep Job Description
A medical equipment sales job description is much like that of any salesperson. Medical sales representatives are often responsible for a set territory in which they may serve as either inside or outside sales representatives, or independent representatives who serve a number of businesses and sell a variety of medical products.
Inside sales representatives may work with current customers through remote contact to ensure that their product is well received. While inside sales representatives may contact new customers, they rarely leave the office or meet with clients directly. Outside sales representatives spend much of their time traveling and often meet directly with both new and existing customers to market new products and ensure quality of service.
Medical Sales Job Duties and Responsibilities
The job profile of medical representative workers is primarily about customer service and marketing. Medical sales representative duties and responsibilities are establishing and maintaining relationships with customers, among other things. This job often involves corresponding with customers via telephone, email or other means to take orders, solicit opinions, provide information about new products and services, keep records or complete progress reports. Sales representatives in technical industries, such as the medical industry, must also keep abreast of new developments in the field in order to provide competitive information to customers.
Work Environment
Most medical sales representatives work normal office hours, either from home or in an office building or warehouse. Although most of their interaction with customers and clients will be done via phone or computer, they may also be required to set up and attend meetings in order to solidify sales orders. Medical sales reps may be required to do overtime work in case of emergencies, extra large orders, or integration of new systems or products into a company.
Medical Sales Rep Requirements
Are you wondering how to become a medical sales rep? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical representative requirements do not include any particular type of formal education. However, the BLS notes that many employers in technical industries, such as the medical industry, prefer prospective employees to have a bachelor's degree from areas such as marketing, communication, customer service or medical office management. Medical sales representatives may also seek voluntary certification, such as the Certified Sales Professional (CSP) or professional training from organizations such as the National Association of Medical Sales Representatives (NAMSR). Here are some steps to become a medical sales rep:
- Obtain a high school diploma or equivalent
- Consider a bachelor's degree in marketing or related field
- Consider voluntary certification
Salary and Job Outlook
According to the BLS, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, including medical and pharmaceutical equipment and products, should expect a 4% increase in employment opportunities from 2019-2029, which is on par with the national average for job growth. The median annual salary for this group was $81,020 in May 2019. The highest-paying states for this job in 2019 were Wyoming ($123,710), New York ($114,110), and Delaware ($110,130).
