Career Guide

Medical Sales Compensation Guide
Base, Commission, OTE & Quota

Medical sales pay can look amazing on paper — but the details matter. This guide breaks down the components and the questions that protect your income.

Quick takeaways

OTE isn’t guaranteed

OTE assumes quota attainment — confirm how often reps actually hit quota.

Accelerators drive upside

Ask what happens above 100% quota — accelerators can double your earnings.

Know your payout timing

Commission may lag sales by weeks/months depending on billing and collections.

Territory matters most

A great comp plan can fail in a weak territory — validate performance history.

Key components of a comp plan

  • Base salary: stable income component (often 40–70% of OTE).
  • Commission: earnings tied to revenue, units, or margin.
  • OTE (On-Target Earnings): base + commission at 100% quota.
  • Quota: the sales target that determines attainment.
  • Accelerators: higher commission rate after certain thresholds (e.g., 110%).
  • SPIFFs/bonuses: short-term incentives (launches, new logos, etc.).

Questions to ask before you accept

  • What % of reps hit quota last year? What’s the average attainment?
  • How is commission calculated (revenue vs margin vs units)?
  • When do commissions pay out (booking vs shipment vs collections)?
  • Are there chargebacks/returns that impact payouts?
  • What’s the territory history and current pipeline health?
  • What happens to accounts/leads if territories shift?

How MedSales Network helps

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