Medical Device Sales Salary: Base, Commission and Entry-Level Pay

There's no official medical device sales salary figure. The closest government match, technical and scientific products sales reps, earned a median of $104,920 in May 2025, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The lowest 10% made under $52,600, and the top 10% made over $200,440. Most reps earn a base salary plus commission or bonuses.

To break in, we recommend our Medical Device Sales Course. It's our course, so we're biased, but it teaches the clinical and sales basics for $499, and the intro course is free. For the full path, see how to start a medical device sales career.

Key takeaways

• BLS doesn't track medical device sales as its own job. Its closest match had a median wage of $104,920 in May 2025.
• Most employers pay salary plus commission, or salary plus bonuses. BLS figures include commissions but not year-end bonuses.
• Salary sites disagree. Glassdoor's average for a medical device sales rep is $158,199 in total pay, while ZipRecruiter lists $65,106.
• A 1099 contractor role usually means no tax withholding and a 15.3% self-employment tax rate, so don't compare it dollar for dollar with a W-2 job.
• Our pick: our Medical Device Sales Course ($499, or four payments of $150) teaches the terminology, operating room basics and sales process entry roles expect. It's ours, and the intro is free.

What's on this page

• What the salary data shows
• Base salary, commission and W-2 vs 1099
• Pay by role
• Entry-level pay
• What drives your pay
• The trade-offs
• How to break in
• Why we recommend our course
• FAQ

Medical Device Sales Salary: What the Data Shows

The best official number is a $104,920 median for technical and scientific products sales reps (BLS, May 2025). BLS has no medical device sales category, so this group is the closest match.

It's broad. BLS says these products "include pharmaceuticals, medical instruments, and industrial equipment," so pharma reps sit in the same numbers as device reps. The middle half earned $75,030 to $158,160.

What these numbers include, and what they miss

Per the BLS wage survey FAQ, its wages include base pay, commissions and production bonuses. They leave out year-end and other nonproduction bonuses, profit sharing and stock bonuses.

So a rep with a big year-end bonus may earn more than these figures show. The survey also "does not cover the self-employed," so independent 1099 reps aren't counted.

What BLS shows for medical equipment makers

In its May 2023 table for medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, technical sales reps averaged $111,000 a year. That's a small slice: about 2,640 jobs out of 311,780 in the occupation that year. Sales managers in that industry averaged $171,080.

How Base Salary and Commission Work in Medical Device Sales

Most jobs pay a fixed base salary plus a variable part tied to results. BLS says most employers use "a combination of salary and commissions or salary plus bonuses."

• Base salary: the fixed part you get no matter what you sell.
• Commission: BLS says commissions "usually are based on a percentage of sales."
• Bonus: per BLS, it may depend on your results, your team's or the company's.
• Target total pay (OTE): what you'd make in a year if you hit quota. Ask for it in every interview.

The variable part can be big. Glassdoor's estimate for medical device sales reps shows base pay of $76K to $115K, plus additional pay of $49K to $91K (accessed October 2026).

W-2 vs 1099 roles

In a W-2 job you're an employee. In a 1099 role you're an independent contractor, which changes your taxes and costs.

The IRS weighs things like "whether expenses are reimbursed" and "employee type benefits" when deciding who's an employee. So a 1099 offer and a W-2 offer with the same number aren't worth the same.

Medical Device Sales Salary by Role

There's no official pay data by job title, so we turned to salary sites for role-level numbers. They disagree a lot, so treat them as rough ranges.

Notice the gaps. ZipRecruiter says its estimates come from "employer job postings and third party data sources."

Both sites rank clinical specialists above the average rep, but that title covers many different jobs. For what each title does, see medical device sales job titles beginners should target.

Senior reps and managers

Some reps move into management. BLS says sales managers "typically enter the occupation from other sales and related occupations." Their median was $148,270 in May 2025, per the BLS sales managers profile.

Entry-Level Medical Device Sales Salary

There's no official entry-level medical device sales salary. BLS doesn't publish pay by experience, but its lowest 10% earned under $52,600 in May 2025. That marks the low end of a broad group, not a starting salary.

Salary sites put associate sales reps anywhere from $66,477 (ZipRecruiter) to $121,320 in total pay (Glassdoor), but Glassdoor's page lists only a few reported salaries. ZipRecruiter's middle half runs from $40,000 to $85,500.

Common entry roles

Entry-level titles include associate sales rep, associate territory manager and clinical specialist. Some are open to people without experience, but they're competitive.

Expect training once you're hired. BLS says many companies run formal training programs for new reps that "may last up to 1 year."

Do you need a degree?

It depends. BLS says technical products reps "typically need at least a bachelor's degree." In O*NET's survey, 39% of respondents said a bachelor's is required and 30% said some college.

Plenty of employers weigh relationship skills and clinical fluency over a diploma, but read each posting. See what medical device companies look for in first-time reps.

What Drives Medical Device Sales Pay

Four things shape what you'll earn: what you sell and who you sell for, your territory, your commission plan and your experience.

Specialty and employer

Device sales covers implants, disposables, capital equipment, robotics and more. What you sell can affect your deal size and commission.

Employer type matters too. In May 2025, BLS put the median for technical sales reps at $133,690 at nondurable goods wholesalers but $99,920 at professional and commercial equipment wholesalers.

Territory

BLS notes some reps "have large territories and travel considerably." A bigger or busier territory can mean more sales, and more time on the road.

Commission plan

Two jobs with the same OTE can pay very differently. Ask how commission is figured, whether it's capped and what share of reps hit quota last year.

Experience

Pay tends to rise as you move from an entry role to your own territory, then into management. Weighing pharma too? See medical device sales vs pharmaceutical sales.

The Trade-Offs Behind the Pay

The pay comes with variable income, quotas, long hours and travel. Go in knowing that.

• Variable income: BLS says reps' "income and job security often depend directly on the amount" they sell.
• Quotas: companies "usually set goals or quotas" reps must meet, per BLS.
• Long hours: 79% of O*NET respondents in this occupation said they work more than 40 hours a week.
• Travel: a region can span several states, and BLS says reps "may be away from home for several days or weeks at a time."
• Early starts: in surgical roles, the day can start at 7 a.m. at the hospital, and surgeries can get added on. Ask about after-hours case coverage.
• Competition: 44% of O*NET respondents said the work itself is "extremely competitive."

If that gives you pause, read is medical device sales a good career? first.

How to Break Into Medical Device Sales

Learn the basics, target entry roles and check the pay structure before you accept. Here's the order we suggest.

1. Learn the language. Study medical terminology, anatomy, surgical procedure flow and healthcare sales.
2. Target entry titles. Look for associate sales rep, associate territory manager and clinical specialist roles.
3. Network in your region. Hiring managers like reps who know the region they'll sell into.
4. Read pay ranges in postings. In New York, employers with four or more employees must list pay ranges and "clearly state if a position is commission-based," per the state labor department.
5. Ask the right questions. Get the base, target total pay, commission plan, any cap, quota attainment, W-2 or 1099 status and expense coverage.

Our recommendation: Start with our free intro course to see if the job fits. If it does, our Medical Device Sales Course teaches the terminology, operating room basics and sales process entry roles expect.

Why We Recommend the CourseCareers Medical Device Sales Course

We built it for people with no medical or sales background who want an entry-level role. It's self-paced, and graduates often finish in 5 to 10 weeks.

• Industry foundations: healthcare system structure, key stakeholders, W-2 vs 1099 roles, and career paths like clinical specialist, associate and territory manager.
• Sales process: B2B and B2C healthcare selling, prospecting by cold call, email and in-person visits, account prioritization and closing.
• Clinical fluency: medical terminology, anatomy, surgical procedure flow, sterile technique and operating room etiquette.
• Product and regulatory basics: device classifications, FDA guidelines, clinical data, implants, disposables, capital equipment and robotics.
• Tools: LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Salesforce, VendorMate and Reptrax.

Matt Moran teaches it. He started as an athletic trainer in Pennsylvania, then moved into medical sales with a durable medical equipment company. He later earned a sales role with a leading spinal implant manufacturer. He's now an area sales manager over multiple Southeast states and runs a YouTube channel for people breaking into the field.

It costs $499, or four payments of $150 every two weeks. Within 14 days of purchase, you can get a refund or switch courses if you haven't taken the final exam. Passing the proctored final exam opens the Career Launchpad, our job search section.

What it doesn't do: it isn't a degree, it can't give you hospital vendor credentials or real case experience, and it won't make this field less competitive. Many companies will still put you through their own training program. And no course can promise you a job or a salary.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do entry-level medical device sales reps make?
There's no official entry-level figure. BLS says the lowest 10% of technical and scientific products sales reps earned under $52,600 in May 2025. For associate reps, ZipRecruiter lists an average of $66,477. Glassdoor estimates $121,320 in total pay, but its page lists only a few reported salaries.

Can you make $200K in medical device sales?
Some people do. BLS says the top 10% of technical and scientific products sales reps earned more than $200,440 in May 2025. That's the top tenth of a broad group, not a typical result.

Is medical device sales commission only?
Usually not. BLS says most employers pay salary plus commissions, or salary plus bonuses. Independent 1099 roles may work differently, so ask how pay is structured before you accept.

Why do medical device sales salary numbers vary so much?
Each source counts something different. BLS covers a broad group, includes commissions and leaves out year-end bonuses and self-employed reps. Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter differ by tens of thousands of dollars for the same title.

Do you need a degree for medical device sales?
Not always. BLS says technical products reps typically need a bachelor's degree, and 39% of O*NET respondents said one is required. Some employers hire without one, so check each posting.

What's the best medical device sales course for beginners?
We recommend our own Medical Device Sales Course, so we're biased. It's $499, self-paced and taught by area sales manager Matt Moran. The intro course is free, and there's a 14-day refund window if you haven't taken the final exam.

Sources

• BLS: Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives (May 2025)
• BLS: Sales Managers (May 2025)
• BLS: OEWS FAQ
• BLS: Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (May 2023)
• BLS: OEWS national estimates for 41-4011 (May 2023)
• O*NET: Technical and Scientific Products Sales Reps
• O*NET: Wages for Technical and Scientific Products Sales Reps (BLS 2025 wage data)
• IRS: Independent Contractor or Employee?
• IRS: Self-Employment Tax
• IRS: About Form W-2
• IRS: About Form 1099-NEC
• New York State Department of Labor: Pay Transparency
• Glassdoor: Medical Device Sales Representative
• Glassdoor: Medical Device Associate Sales Representative
• Glassdoor: Medical Device Clinical Specialist
• ZipRecruiter: Medical Device Sales Representative (Sep 2026)
• ZipRecruiter: Associate Sales Representative Medical Device (Aug 2026)
• ZipRecruiter: Clinical Specialist Medical Device (Sep 2026)
• CourseCareers: Medical Device Sales Course