How to Become a Medical Sales Representative and Earn Top Pay

Medical Representative as a job title most frequently refers to medical sales representatives and these in turn encompass pharmaceuticals and medical equipment in growing proportions. As the American and Canadian populations age and increasing numbers of war veterans return to North America with injuries and other health conditions that in previous wars might have killed them, we have two growing segments that need more medical attention. We see from experience in the 2000s that this attention manifests as increased needs for medications, mobility aids, prostheses and related services and equipment. Add to this the new products and services required by increased aviation and aerospace flight through 2030, and related medical sales representation with skyrocket, so to speak.

• Original Link: Vanderbilt Powered Leg Prosthesis: vanderbilt.edu/cttc/technology/powered-leg-prosthesis

One example of new prostheses and implants used in 2011 with US Veterans of the Iraqi War are “power legs” than involve internal propellant operations. Amputees are able to walk with a near-normal gait and play golf without walkers, canes or crutches, even with two power legs. Prostheses are advancing continually and are a top piece of high end medical equipment that is very valuable. Prosthetic arms and hands are following suit. Having witnesses some of the first mechanically built artificial arms, hands, and fingers equipped with batteries in the late 1980s in my state, I find the power prostheses a miracle of invention.

In the realm of pharmaceuticals, not all of these are drugs. The new powdered pig intestine or bladder used for growing absolutely new organs in humans is set to become a top sales item to hospitals. Using this powder and a simple support matrix that will dissolve later, surgeons are building new esophagi, new muscle tissues, and new tissues of many types. All these replace organs and tissues that were ravaged by cancer. The procedure is simple and already available in some US cities, even to Senior Citizens, who sometimes do not receive the higher-priced surgical and transplant services.

Aerospace related components and equipment make up another group of products that are increasing in demand very quickly and these include health related items. Closely linked to this are computer components and systems.

Medical sales representatives in computer related and pharmaceutical products and services stand to earn the highest incomes.

Such incomes were found by the US DOL to be at a median of $74,000 - $80,000+ annually in 2008. Jobs are expected to increase in this combined area by 10% during the decade 2008 – 2018 and have already increased in 2008 – 2011 to produce higher expectations that this 10%.

Annual Benefits can include:

Health and Dental Benefits; Paid Holidays, Vacations, and Sick Leave; Retirement Benefits; Life and Short-Term/Long/Term Disability Insurance, Transportation Subsidies, Sales Bonuses, Professional Development, Conferences, and more.

Complex medical related products and services require that job candidates understand and be able to explain their construction, uses, and other data.

Job applicants will usually need a 4-year college degree, technical skills and knowledge, and sales skills that include good communications (perhaps in more than one language), and a history of success and increasing sales on the job.

Earnings for these types of jobs according to advertised job listings in the autumn of 2011and according to US DOL projections take the form of a yearly salary and commission. Bonuses are also sometimes awarded.

Approximately 5,200 jobs as Medical Sales Representative or Medical Sales Rep and over 25,400 as Pharmaceutical Sales Rep were listed in the USA in combined Internet postings from mid-October to November 6, 2011.

SimplyHired.com and Indeed.com found the average annual salary advertised to be $68,000, with a high of $92,000. About 850 of the job listings were for salaries of $90,000 or more annually. These highest paid jobs are offered by these companies

1. Gentiva, Gentiva Health
2. Pat Licata & Associates
3. Healthcare Specialists
4. Michelle Lawson
5. Medmatch International
6. CCI
7. Rotech Healthcare
8. Sabaugh Group
9. CPR Medical
10. Abbe Timmons
11. AIMS Medical Sales Recruiting
12. SMS Recruiters
13. Alcon Laboratories
14. Medicine Industries Inc.
15. Bishop Executive Services
16. TTR
17. Roberts Healthcare
18. Normyle/Erstling Health Search Group
19. Medcepts
20. Headhunter recruiting agencies

Metro Areas in which the most of the highest paying positions are advertised are:

Chicago IL, Los Angeles, San Francisco, NYC, Atlanta GA, Houston TX, Washington DC, Philadelphia PA, Columbus, OH, Boston MA, Denver CO, Miami FL, Detroit MI, Baltimore MD, and Phoenix AZ.

Check the City Reviews at the embedded links.