Entry-Level Medical Device Sales Jobs: How to Get Hired With No Experience
By: Jerry Morrison
You're about to graduate. You've got a degree (or almost do), some hustle, and zero experience in medical device sales. Here's the thing: that's completely fine. In fact, you're in better shape than you might think.
Entry level medical device sales jobs are out there, and companies are actively looking for candidates just like you. The catch? You need to know how to position yourself, what hiring managers actually care about, and which steps will get you through the door fastest.
Let's break it all down.
What is medical device sales, anyway?
Medical device sales reps serve as the critical link between medical technology companies and the healthcare providers who use their products. Your job is to sell devices, equipment, and supplies to hospitals, surgical centers, clinics, and physician practices.
But it's not like selling cars or software. Medical device reps often attend surgeries to provide technical support. They train surgeons on new equipment. They become the go-to expert that doctors rely on when something's not working right or when they need to understand how a new product fits their practice.
According to global healthcare technology firm IQVIA, the devices that medical sales professionals bring to healthcare providers "could prolong a patient's life by years, or drastically improve the quality of life for a person with a chronic disease." While reps aren't treating patients directly, they play a critical role in getting life-changing technology into the hands of doctors and surgeons who do. That indirect but meaningful impact is why many reps cite the work as deeply rewarding.
What to expect for salary
Let's talk money. Medical device sales is one of the higher-paying fields you can break into right out of college.
The average medical device sales representative earns $157,251 per year. Most reps fall somewhere between $121,005 and $209,019 annually, with top earners (90th percentile) making up to $266,054. These figures are based on 625 salaries submitted to Glassdoor as of December 2025.
The earning potential in this field is significant, and your income will depend on your territory, product line, and performance. Reps who specialize in high-value areas like orthopedics or surgical robotics often land on the higher end of that range.
Do you need a degree?
Short answer: you need a bachelor's degree to work at major medical device companies like Stryker, Medtronic, and Johnson & Johnson. It's industry standard, and hiring managers assume you have one. Based on Zippia's analysis of 5,500 medical sales representative resumes, 82% hold a bachelor's degree. Only about 1% have no degree at all.
The good news? There's no single "right" major."
The most common majors? Business, marketing, and biology. But here's what's encouraging: there's no overwhelming correlation between your undergraduate major and success in landing these jobs. Reps come from backgrounds in communications, kinesiology, life sciences, and plenty of other fields.
AcuityMD, a medical device analytics company, notes that if you already have a degree in something unrelated, you can still position yourself as a strong candidate. The key is learning to frame your background and transferable skills in a way that makes sense for the role.
If you're still deciding on a major, business or marketing will give you foundational sales knowledge, while biology or life sciences will help you understand the clinical side. Either path works. What matters more is how you sell yourself (which, conveniently, is also the job).
The experience myth: you don't need a medical sales background
Here's the stat that should make you feel better: around 68% of associates had little to no medical sales experience before entering the industry.
Let that sink in. More than two-thirds of people doing this job right now didn't come from medical sales. That's good news if you're looking to break into the field with no prior experience.
Jay Johnson, Director of Talent Acquisition for Orthopedics at Stryker (one of the largest medical device companies in the world), put it bluntly in an interview with BioSpace: "You don't have to have experience in this space. I think that's a misnomer."
What do hiring managers actually want? Johnson was clear: "If you can build relationships, if you can learn quickly, if you can be adaptable and you're willing to put in the work, we will talk to you. We want to understand your story."
Translation: your soft skills and attitude matter more than your resume's buzzwords.
What hiring managers look for in entry level candidates
Let's get specific. Multiple industry sources, including IQVIA and Stryker's talent team, say that these are the qualities that stand out:
Coachability. Can you take feedback and actually apply it? Medical device companies invest heavily in training. They need people who listen, learn, and improve.
Adaptability. This industry moves fast. Product lines change. Hospital purchasing processes get reshuffled. Surgeons have bad days. Reps who stay flexible and keep moving forward are the ones who last.
Time management. You'll be juggling multiple accounts, procedures, and administrative tasks. If you can't prioritize, you'll drown.
Relationship building. This is a people business. Your ability to build trust with surgeons, nurses, procurement teams, and hospital administrators will determine your success more than almost anything else.
Problem-solving skills. The best reps identify a client's challenges and recommend the right products to address them. You're not just taking orders. You're consulting.
Resilience. Rejection happens. Deals fall through. You need to keep showing up.
Notice what's not on this list? Years of medical sales experience. A specific degree. A particular GPA. Those things can help, but they're not what separates candidates who get hired from those who don't.
How to land entry level medical device sales jobs: actionable steps
Here's your playbook for breaking in:
1. Start with associate or entry-level positions
Don't try to skip steps. Most major medical device companies have designated entry points for new grads.
Stryker, for example, specifically recommends their Sales Associate or Marketing Associate roles for people entering (or recently entering) the workforce. These positions typically don't require prior sales experience and serve as a launching pad into full sales rep roles.
Look for job titles like Sales Associate, Associate Sales Representative, Clinical Sales Specialist, or Sales Development Representative. These are the jobs that will get your foot in the door.
2. Get some sales experience (any sales experience)
If you're still in school, an internship in any sales environment will help. Retail sales, B2B sales, pharmaceutical sales, even summer jobs where you had to persuade people to buy something.
AcuityMD suggests that if you want to change careers into medical device sales, companies often look for one to five years of experience in sales, marketing, or customer-facing roles. The experience doesn't need to be in medical sales specifically.
A useful strategy: gain one to three years of experience in a less competitive sales market first. It'll prepare you for the higher-stakes world of medical devices.
3. Network strategically
Here's a quote worth remembering. Medical sales veteran Andy Worth says: "Even though it is a huge industry, it is a small community. The company itself doesn't make hiring decisions; people hire people."
Start with LinkedIn. Search for medical device sales reps at companies you're interested in. Reach out with a genuine question about their career path. Ask if they'd be willing to share advice over a 15-minute call. Most people remember what it was like to break in and are willing to help.
Attend industry events if you can. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and North American Spine Society (NASS) conferences bring together manufacturers, reps, and hiring managers. Even if you're just there to observe and make introductions, you'll learn a lot and potentially make connections that lead to interviews.
4. Build your online presence
Your LinkedIn profile matters more than you might think. Use keywords like "medical sales," "healthcare sales," and "sales representative" in your profile summary and experience sections to help recruiters find you. Stryker's talent team specifically mentions the value of using your LinkedIn network and connecting with sales reps at target companies.
Follow medical device companies. Join relevant LinkedIn groups. Comment on posts from industry leaders. This shows you're engaged and serious about the field. It also helps you stay informed about new positions as they open up.
5. Highlight leadership and competitive experiences
Stryker's talent team specifically looks for leadership signals: "Whether you were a captain of a team, president of an academic group, chairman of your sorority/fraternity, etc., this shows managers that your peers see you as a natural leader, that you are easily coachable, and are able to function as an individual contributor."
Played college sports? That counts. Ran a student organization? That counts. Managed a side hustle? That counts. Think about the experiences where you led others, competed, set goals, and pushed yourself. Those stories will resonate with hiring managers reviewing new candidates.
6. Invest in sales training
Formal sales training programs can give you a significant edge when pursuing these roles. They teach you industry-specific knowledge (anatomy, surgical procedures, hospital protocols, operating room etiquette) and connect you with hiring managers who specifically recruit from these programs.
For hiring managers, a candidate who has completed specialized training signals commitment and readiness. You've invested time and money to learn the ropes before day one.
Certifications like the Certified Sales Professional (CSP) from MRERF or the Registered Medical Sales Representative (RMSR) from NAMSR can also strengthen your application.
7. Prepare seriously for interviews
Medical device sales interviews are competitive. Hundreds of candidates apply for single openings. You need to stand out.
Before you walk in (or log on), you should have researched the company thoroughly. You should understand the market they operate in and have questions about the specific products you'd be selling. Come with measurable accomplishments from your past experience (percentages, rankings, numbers) rather than just a list of responsibilities.
And remember: you're trying to sell yourself. If you can't do that convincingly in an interview, why would they trust you to sell their products to surgeons?
The job outlook
Healthcare is booming. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare occupations are projected to grow much faster than average through 2034, with about 1.9 million openings projected each year. Healthcare is now the top employer among all U.S. industries.
For wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives (which includes medical device sales), the BLS projects about 142,100 openings annually over the next decade. Most of these come from replacing workers who retire or move into other roles.
An aging population means more joint replacements, cardiac procedures, and chronic disease management. That translates directly to more demand for the devices and equipment that medical sales reps sell. For anyone considering this field, the timing is good.
Start your career in medical device sales
Breaking into the field without experience isn't easy, but it's absolutely doable. Most people in the industry started exactly where you are now.
Focus on what you can control: building relevant skills, networking intentionally, gaining any sales experience you can, and preparing like your career depends on it (because it does).
The companies hiring for entry level medical device sales don't need you to have ten years of experience. They need people who can learn fast, build relationships, and put in the work.
If that sounds like you, you're already ahead of most applicants.
Are you ready to accelerate your path into entry level medical device sales? Med RETI provides sales training designed to give you the industry knowledge and practical skills that hiring managers look for. Learn more about how we can help you land your first medical device sales role. Get started today!
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Frequently asked questions about entry-level medical device sales jobs
Q: What is entry level medical device sales?
A: Entry level medical device sales positions are roles like Sales Associate, Associate Sales Representative, or Clinical Sales Specialist designed for candidates with little to no prior medical sales experience. These positions typically involve supporting senior reps, learning products and procedures, and building relationships with healthcare providers. Most major companies like Stryker, Medtronic, and DePuy Synthes offer these entry-level roles specifically for new graduates and career changers.
Q: How much do entry level medical device sales reps make?
A: The average medical device sales representative earns $157,251 per year, with most reps earning between $121,005 and $209,019 annually. Entry-level positions typically start lower but still offer competitive salaries plus commission. Top performers in specialized areas like orthopedics or surgical robotics can earn significantly more as they build their territories and gain experience.
Q: Do you need experience to get an entry level medical device sales job?
A: No. Around 68% of medical device sales associates had little to no medical sales experience before entering the industry. Jay Johnson, Director of Talent Acquisition for Orthopedics at Stryker, confirms: "You don't have to have experience in this space." Companies prioritize soft skills like relationship building, coachability, adaptability, and resilience over specific sales experience.
Q: What degree do you need for medical device sales?
A: Most medical device sales reps (82%) hold a bachelor's degree, but there's no single required major. The most common degrees are business, marketing, and biology, but successful reps come from communications, kinesiology, life sciences, and other fields. What matters more than your major is your ability to learn quickly, build relationships, and demonstrate relevant transferable skills.
Q: How do I break into medical device sales with no experience?
A: Start by applying for associate or entry-level positions at major medical device companies. Build your LinkedIn presence with relevant keywords. Network with current reps through informational interviews. Gain any sales experience you can, even in unrelated fields. Consider formal sales training programs that teach anatomy, surgical procedures, and OR protocols. Highlight leadership experiences and competitive achievements on your resume.
Q: What skills do medical device sales hiring managers look for?
A: Hiring managers prioritize coachability, adaptability, time management, relationship building, problem-solving skills, and resilience. According to Stryker's talent team, they want to see leadership signals like being a team captain, student organization president, or demonstrated ability to function as an individual contributor. Your soft skills and attitude matter more than having a perfect resume.
Q: Is medical device sales hard to break into?
A: Medical device sales is competitive, but not impossible for entry-level candidates. The key is positioning yourself correctly. Most people currently in the field started with no medical sales experience. Focus on building relevant skills, networking strategically, gaining any sales experience you can, and preparing thoroughly for interviews. Companies need people who can learn fast and build relationships, not necessarily candidates with years of experience.
Q: What's the job outlook for medical device sales?
A: The outlook is strong. Healthcare is now the top employer among all U.S. industries, with healthcare occupations projected to grow much faster than average through 2034. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 142,100 annual openings for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives (which includes medical device sales) over the next decade. An aging population means increasing demand for medical devices.