E34 | Pharma or Device: Which Path Fits You in 2026

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Medical Sales U with Dave Sterrett

Dave Sterrett

37 episodes

1 week ago

Prior to venturing into the world of medical sales, Dave’s diverse background included roles as a dedicated teacher, impactful work in the nonprofit sector, and humanitarian missions to Africa. However, despite his passion for these pursuits, Dave found himself falling short of his financial goals. Undeterred, Dave embraced the challenge and within less than five weeks, secured a coveted six-figure job offer. His stellar performance continued, achieving President’s Club recognition in the first year and doubling his compensation by the third year. Eager to share the secrets of his success and help others overcome barriers to entry, Dave established Medical Sales U. The driving force behind this endeavor is Dave’s commitment to guiding individuals from various backgrounds into the medical sales industry.

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E34 | Pharma or Device: Which Path Fits You in 2026

Medical Sales U with Dave Sterrett

25 minutes 47 seconds

4 weeks ago

E34 | Pharma or Device: Which Path Fits You in 2026

Are you trying to break into medical sales but stuck deciding between Pharmaceutical and Medical Device? Or maybe you're curious about the high-growth world of Diagnostics and Genomics?
Today, we discuss the differences in pay, lifestyle, and entry-level requirements for each path. Whether you want the adrenaline of the Operating Room or the stability of a $130k+ base salary in Pharma, this episode covers the 12 key distinctions you need to know before applying.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:
The Personality Test: Why "Engineers" love Device and "Scientists" love Pharma.
The Paycheck: Real breakdown of base salaries vs. uncapped commissions.
The Hidden Third Option: Why Oncology Diagnostics/Genomics might be the "Goldilocks" career path.
Work-Life Balance: The reality of on-call surgical hours vs. the 9-to-5 pharma life.
Success Stories: How a nurse (Sydney) and an immigrant (Kanika) broke in with $150k-$200k packages.

READY TO BREAK IN? If you are struggling to get offers or don't know where to start, we help people from all backgrounds (nurses, coaches, teachers) launch their medical sales careers.
Apply to Medical Sales U at medicalsalesu.com/

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro: The common dilemma (O.R. vs. Samples).
01:06 - The 3 Paths: Pharma, Device, and Diagnostics.
02:15 - Science vs. Engineering: Which fits your brain?
04:35 - Salary Reveal: Entry-level Pharma Pay ($95k-$135k base).
06:10 - The "Associate" Role: Why Device base pay starts lower.
07:40 - The Top 1%: Earning potential ($300k - $750k).
09:15 - Diagnostics Pay: The sweet spot?
10:30 - The Sales Process: Who are you actually selling to?
13:50 - Lifestyle Check: Early mornings vs. Family flexibility.
17:15 - Career Advancement: From Rep to Regional Director.
22:15 - Student Success: From $68k to $200k total comp.
ABOUT MEDICAL SALES U: Medical Sales U is the premier training program for professionals looking to break into high-paying careers in Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, and Genetic Testing sales. We turn "outsiders" into top 1% candidates.

CONNECT WITH US:
Learn more about coaching and career support at medicalsalesu.com/

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