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re: Any medical sales professionals here? Change of careers.
Posted on 3/28/26 at 4:38 pm to GREENHEAD22
Posted on 3/28/26 at 4:38 pm to GREENHEAD22
As Gaucho pointed out, surgeries/procedures happen at all hours and on all days.
I’m in orthopaedics, so I can speak to that specifically. The guys/girls I knew who were sales associates in the first few years get worked pretty hard. Salary depends on company and what type of implants you are selling. I think they typically start salary then transition to commission based. Can be lucrative if you stick with it.
I’m in orthopaedics, so I can speak to that specifically. The guys/girls I knew who were sales associates in the first few years get worked pretty hard. Salary depends on company and what type of implants you are selling. I think they typically start salary then transition to commission based. Can be lucrative if you stick with it.
1
Posted on 3/28/26 at 4:43 pm to tiger rag 93
Also sometimes reps hosts after hours demos for a group of physicians (+ or - having a guest speaker) to showcase their new product.
Posted on 3/28/26 at 4:44 pm to GREENHEAD22
If your wife is an OT she will have experience doing hand therapy. She could explore companies that are more upper extremity focused as she would have an understanding of the function and anatomy involved.
Posted on 3/28/26 at 4:47 pm to GREENHEAD22
A friend of mine retired a couple years ago from selling the devices for joint replacement, spinal fusion, etc. and he made bank for many years. He also got his nephew in the field and he also makes a great living.
Posted on 3/28/26 at 5:08 pm to tiger rag 93
quote:
This gets so overblown. Yes there are sales reps who make that, but they are the top guys at a distributor who have been around. There are far more guys grinding 60-70 hours a week and taking call multiple nights a week and multiple weekends a month who make $75,000-$150,000.
It’s all over the place honestly. You still see plenty of $100-150k jobs. There are some where you can make 500k+ (and don’t have to be the owner of a distributor).
There are plenty of jobs in the $200k range, at plan. And with a very good year above plan, you’ll far surpass this number.
- Have been in Med Device Sales for 17 years, and current Region Manager for one of the larger companies. I have had the task of helping inform comp updates to our internal finance team.
This post was edited on 3/28/26 at 5:12 pm
Posted on 3/28/26 at 5:13 pm to okietiger
How much out of town traveling is required normally?
Posted on 3/28/26 at 6:00 pm to Paul Allen
quote:
Medical device reps make beaucoup money. Like $450,000 - $600,000 a year.
About as common as the Plant baws making $350k/ yr
Posted on 3/28/26 at 6:12 pm to GREENHEAD22
Very tough question to answer.
Most med device jobs are either one of the following:
1.) Windshield time. Jobs like this mean that overnights will happen. Larger geography territories. Don’t have to be at every case typically.
2.) Case coverage heavy. You are expected to be there. A lot of time the procedures won’t happen without the rep in the room. These are usually smaller geographical territories however the schedule can be intense because you are beholden to your surgeon’s case schedules.
I’ve done both and prefer the first but overnights are a deal breaker for some.
Most med device jobs are either one of the following:
1.) Windshield time. Jobs like this mean that overnights will happen. Larger geography territories. Don’t have to be at every case typically.
2.) Case coverage heavy. You are expected to be there. A lot of time the procedures won’t happen without the rep in the room. These are usually smaller geographical territories however the schedule can be intense because you are beholden to your surgeon’s case schedules.
I’ve done both and prefer the first but overnights are a deal breaker for some.
Posted on 3/28/26 at 6:24 pm to GREENHEAD22
quote:My job is hybrid. Clinical and sales, so I get a commission. My wife is an RN and works with cardiologists. The sales reps for the devices used in a cath lab are super expensive, and one-time use only, so I imagine those reps make a ton. I also have tons of experience with dealing with sales reps, so here is my advice. Sales in medical field is heavily dependent on clinical knowledge of the product, having a personality that can convince docs and business to KEEP ordering your products. All sales reps have quotas, and their bosses ALWAYS are wanting the numbers up.
Work schedule mostly but also money. Are the positions usually a split salary and commission or heavy to all commission?
Posted on 3/28/26 at 6:30 pm to jbgleason
quote:This is really good advice. If she is an OT, then she knows the products available to treat her patients. What is good, and what is not. A great product almost sells itself.
She needs to find a company and product that sells to OT’s. Get on board and start out selling to the place she used to work. Then people she met in her area through trainings and conferences. Build her book of business from there.
Sticking to a product in her former area of practice means she speaks the lingo and has stories of how her new product would have made her job easier.
That’s the path. Don’t go jump into some completely different field and throw away all her schooling and experience.
Posted on 3/28/26 at 6:32 pm to GeauxTigers123
quote:You forgot about the expensive dinners. Sales reps paid $8500 for my spouse's department Christmas party alone.
The sales reps meet the doctors after hours to bring them supplies and or show them how to operate the computer that attaches to the probe that is stuck inside the patient.
If a doc is using products that end up in a weekly order of $40K, you don't bat an eye at a $1000 meal if he calls you up to meet him for dinner.
This post was edited on 3/28/26 at 6:36 pm
Posted on 3/28/26 at 9:24 pm to greygoose
quote:
If a doc is using products that end up in a weekly order of $40K, you don't bat an eye at a $1000 meal if he calls you up to meet him for dinner.
Sunshine Act has ended the free for all with reps. Used to they would spend whatever, whenever. Now they are strict strict with it. $125 max per doctor per day. They take it pretty seriously because these companies don’t want more scrutiny from the feds.
Posted on 3/28/26 at 10:10 pm to greygoose
That would get you fired at my company. $175 dinner cap for dinner HCPs.
Playing with fire if you start pushing the envelope.
Playing with fire if you start pushing the envelope.
Posted on 3/28/26 at 10:21 pm to okietiger
quote:
That would get you fired at my company. $175 dinner cap for dinner HCPs. Playing with fire if you start pushing the envelope.
Yeah im pretty sure some of these posters saw something or heard something about a fancy dinner or expensive company trip in 1998 or in 2004, and they think that things never evolve, and that it’s the same way today… not true at all .
Posted on 3/28/26 at 11:04 pm to jbgleason
quote:
She needs to find a company and product that sells to OT’s. Get on board and start out selling to the place she used to work. Then people she met in her area through trainings and conferences. Build her book of business from there. Sticking to a product in her former area of practice means she speaks the lingo and has stories of how her new product would have made her job easier. That’s the path. Don’t go jump into some completely different field and throw away all her schooling and experience. And since this is the OT. She can invest in a bunch of tops that show cleavage. That will help too.
This is great advice and her only legitimate shot she has
If she isn’t selling into a field she currently works in, her time as an OT adds little to no value
She will start as an associate where she will make 60,000-100,000. Her hours will be pretty bad.
It takes 4-5 strong years in medical devices to get to the point t where you make real money. Mort people won’t last 3
Posted on 3/28/26 at 11:06 pm to GREENHEAD22
quote:
wife is an OT, though she likes the work. OTs don't get paid well and the market in general is slim.
How much does she make? What city?
This post was edited on 3/28/26 at 11:07 pm
Posted on 3/28/26 at 11:14 pm to tiger rag 93
quote:
Sunshine Act has ended the free for all with reps. Used to they would spend whatever, whenever. Now they are strict strict with it. $125 max per doctor per day. They take it pretty seriously because these companies don’t want more scrutiny from the feds.
Food and Beverage are exempt. If I want to do a lunch for a 3 doctor practice, the schedule is booked out 3 months. You have no idea what you are talking about. My wife get's catered in food several times a week, where she works.Posted on 3/28/26 at 11:19 pm to GREENHEAD22
Home health agencies are always looking for OTs. Monday-Friday, pay is pretty good at many agencies.
Posted on 3/28/26 at 11:24 pm to okietiger
quote:30 people in a practice and you are doing a lunch? $175?
That would get you fired at my company. $175 dinner cap for dinner HCPs.
Playing with fire if you start pushing the envelope.
Again, med device reps secured and private room at a restaurant, and dropped $8500 on a Christmas party that I attended as a guest. 
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