| Job Category |  | Sales & Related |
| |
|
| Job Description | | Promote the sale of medical and dental equipment, supplies, and services to doctors, dentists, hospitals, medical schools, and retail establishments. Select surgical appliances from what's available and fit and sell appliances to customers. Study data describing new products to accurately recommend the purchase of equipment and supplies. Write specifications for ordering custom-made surgical appliances, using customers measurements and physicians prescriptions. Advise customers about office layout, legal and insurance regulations, cost analysis, and collection methods. Design and build custom-made medical appliances. |
| |
|
| Working Conditions | | Some manufacturers and wholesale sales representatives have large territories and travel considerably. A sales region may cover several states, and so representatives may be away from home for several days or weeks at a time. Others work near their "home base" and travel mostly by automobile. Due to the nature of the work and the amount of travel, sales representatives typically work more than 40 hours per week. Although the hours are long and often irregular, most sales representatives have the freedom to determine their own schedule. Consequently, they can arrange their appointments so they can have time off when they want it. The job requires a lot of social interaction and the ability to be very persuasive. Dealing with different types of people can be demanding but stimulating. Sales representatives often face competition from representatives of other companies as well as from fellow workers. Companies usually set goals or quotas that representatives are expected to meet. Since their earnings depend on commissions, manufacturers agents are also under the added pressure to maintain and expand their clientele. |
| |
|
| Salary Range | | Median annual earnings of sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturering, technical and scientific products, were $64,400, in 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $45,600 and $91,100 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,400, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $121,800 a year. |
|
