# Medical Device Sales Internships: Summer 2027 Guide

> Who's hiring medical sales interns for summer 2027, what they pay, what companies look for, when to apply, and why an internship helps you break into medical sales later. Built from current openings on The Lobby.

By The Lobby
Published: 2026-11-09
Canonical: https://thelobbynetwork.com/articles/medical-device-sales-internships-summer-2027

## The short version

- The Lobby Network listed 36 medical sales internships for summer 2027 as of November 9, 2026, including 29 at Stryker.
- Pay runs from about $16.50 to $35 an hour in current listings, and Stryker adds housing support and a sign-on bonus.
- Apply in the fall; most programs posted between late August and October 2026.
- Most programs want current students with about a 3.0 GPA who can travel and work full time over the summer.
- About 1 in 8 entry-level medical sales postings list an internship as a plus, which makes it one of the best early steps into the field.

Summer 2027 medical device sales internships are open now, and many fill over the fall. As of November 9, 2026, The Lobby Network listed 36 medical sales internship openings, led by 29 Stryker sales internships in 22 cities. Stryker posts $20 to $35 an hour plus housing support. Most programs want current college students with about a 3.0 GPA.

> **The short version**
> - 36 medical sales internships for summer 2027 are listed on The Lobby, including 29 at Stryker, plus Benco Dental, McKesson, Merck Animal Health, Cencora, Teleflex, Diversatek and AbbVie (Lobby job listings, Nov 9, 2026).
> - Pay: Stryker lists $20 to $35 an hour plus a sign-on bonus and housing or a stipend; McKesson lists $16.50 to $27.50 an hour.
> - Most programs run 8 to 12 weeks, from late May or June to August.
> - Apply in the fall: most summer 2027 postings went up between late August and October 2026.
> - About 1 in 8 entry-level medical sales job postings on The Lobby list an internship as a plus.

## Who's hiring medical sales interns for summer 2027?

Here are the medical sales internships listed on The Lobby as of November 9, 2026.

| Company | Internship | Openings | Pay as posted | Length and dates | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stryker | Summer 2027 sales internships in joint replacement, upper extremities, foot and ankle and Sage | 29 | $20 to $35 an hour, sign-on bonus, housing or living stipend | Summer 2027, 12 weeks | 22 cities (list below) |
| McKesson | Inside sales intern | 1 | $16.50 to $27.50 an hour | 10 weeks | Richmond, VA |
| Benco Dental | Sales intern (dental distribution) | 1 | Paid | 10 weeks, summer | Nationwide, in an assigned region |
| Merck Animal Health | Companion animal sales intern (Future Talent Program) | 1 | Posted as an annualized range | Up to 12 weeks, May 24 to Aug 6, 2027 | Field based, location assigned |
| Cencora | Sales and support intern | 1 | Posted as an annualized range | June 21 to Aug 27, 2027 | Remote |
| Diversatek Healthcare | Medical device sales intern (GI) | 1 | Paid | 8 weeks | Milwaukee, WI |
| Teleflex | Corporate accounts intern | 1 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| AbbVie | Commercial leader program intern, aesthetics (MBA students) | 1 | Not listed | Summer 2027 | Not listed |

*Source: The Lobby job listings, Nov 9, 2026.*

**Stryker summer 2027 sales internship cities:** Bloomfield, CT; Canton, MA; Cary, IL; Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; Fremont, CA; Houston, TX; Kansas City, MO; Lenexa, KS; Los Angeles, CA; Minneapolis, MN; New York, NY; Oklahoma City, OK; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Richmond, VA; San Jose, CA; Seattle, WA; St. Louis, MO; Tampa, FL; and other Colorado locations.

By division, Stryker's openings break down to joint replacement (12), upper extremities (10), foot and ankle (5) and Sage (2).

Stryker's careers site lists more student roles beyond these sales internships, including a [summer 2027 sales systems engineer internship in Michigan](https://careers.stryker.com/summer-2027-internship-sales-systems-engineer-michigan/job/C633139ADF7D47CF8AE2A3595ACA07BC). Stryker describes its U.S. summer internship as a paid 12-week program that includes philanthropy and team-building events ([Stryker Students and Graduates](https://careers.stryker.com/students-and-graduates)).

## How much do medical sales internships pay?

Medical sales internships are paid. Here is a summary of current listings:

- **Stryker:** $20 to $35 an hour, plus a sign-on bonus, 11 paid holidays, and either paid corporate housing or a living stipend, depending on location.
- **McKesson:** $16.50 to $27.50 an hour for a 10-week inside sales internship in Richmond, Virginia.
- **Benco Dental:** a paid 10-week summer sales internship, with full-time job opportunities after graduation.
- **Merck Animal Health and Cencora:** post annualized pay ranges for their internships rather than hourly rates.

At $20 to $35 an hour over a typical 10 to 12 week summer, a full-time intern would earn roughly $8,000 to $16,800 before taxes, plus any housing support.

## When should you apply for a summer 2027 medical sales internship?

Apply in the fall, a full summer ahead. In The Lobby's listings:

- Stryker posted its summer 2027 sales internships on September 1, 2026, with a few more added through October.
- McKesson posted in October, Diversatek and Cencora in late September, Merck and Teleflex in late October, and Benco Dental in early November.
- Merck says it will review applications by mid-November.

Many programs hire on a rolling basis, so the earlier you apply, the more openings are still available. If you're reading this in spring, check for remaining openings and plan ahead for the following summer.

## What do companies look for in a medical sales intern?

Requirements are similar across the postings we reviewed:

| Requirement | What postings say |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | Currently enrolled in a bachelor's program. Stryker only considers students returning to school after the summer. Merck requires at least 2 years of college completed by May 2027. Benco looks for students who have completed junior-level coursework, or master's students entering their second year. AbbVie's program is for MBA students |
| GPA | 3.0 or higher, preferred or required (Stryker, Benco, Diversatek, Teleflex, AbbVie) |
| Major | Usually any related field. Benco lists business, sales or marketing. Teleflex lists business, marketing, finance, economics, healthcare administration, public health, data analytics and supply chain |
| Work authorization | Stryker requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency; Merck offers no visa sponsorship |
| Travel and driving | Field internships travel 25% to 50%. Benco requires a dependable vehicle and a valid driver's license for daily travel in an assigned territory. Merck requires interns to rent a car, so candidates must be 20 or older |
| Availability | Full time for the whole program (McKesson asks for 40 hours a week) |

Beyond the checklist, sales internships look for the same things as entry-level sales roles.

> "Hiring managers look for the same traits in an intern that they see in their best reps: drive, competitiveness and coachability. If you played a sport, led a campus organization or worked through school, talk about it. Then do your homework. Research the company, connect with reps on LinkedIn, and shadow a rep if you can. That shows you're serious about medical sales, not just applying everywhere." 
> -Kendy Elmore, Founder, The Lobby Network

## What do medical sales interns actually do?

It depends on the company, but most programs put you next to working reps:

- **Stryker:** shadow sales associates, sales reps and operations staff; learn to use surgical instruments through coaching; help deliver surgical kits and assemble and break down instrument kits; build a target account list or marketing project; and prepare a sales presentation.
- **Benco Dental:** work an assigned region alongside the sales team, lead sales activities with assigned customers, attend sales meetings and dental conventions, and train at Benco locations.
- **Diversatek:** generate leads, prospect hospitals, endoscopy centers and surgery centers with the inside and field sales teams, and complete product training in the GI space.
- **Merck Animal Health:** field-based sales support, including face-to-face calls with veterinary clinics.
- **McKesson:** work with the inside sales team in Richmond, Virginia.

## Why is an internship valuable for breaking into medical sales?

It gives you the experience entry-level employers ask for. In The Lobby's review of 298 entry-level medical sales job postings, about 13% listed an internship as a plus. Several Stryker associate sales rep postings, for example, list "Sales or marketing internship" among their preferred qualifications.

That matters because entry-level roles are competitive. Of entry-level postings that list a minimum amount of experience, 72% ask for 1 to 2 years of sales experience. A sales internship won't replace that on its own, but it gives you real sales experience, results you can talk about in an interview, and relationships with reps and managers who can refer you later.

## Are there pharmaceutical sales internships?

Yes, though fewer are listed. Current openings on The Lobby include Merck Animal Health's companion animal sales internship and AbbVie's commercial leader program internship for MBA students. Distributors such as McKesson and Cencora also offer sales and support internships with exposure to pharmaceutical distribution.

## How do you get a medical device sales internship?

1. **Apply in the fall.** Most summer programs post between late August and October.
2. **Search The Lobby's job listings for "intern."** Filter by company or city to find openings near you.
3. **Use your campus.** Career fairs, your career center and sales clubs connect you with recruiters who hire interns.
4. **Network on LinkedIn.** Connect with recent interns and reps in the division you want, and ask what the program is like.
5. **Attend Lobby events.** Meet reps and hiring managers in person.
6. **Shadow a rep.** Spending a day with a rep, or working a customer-facing job, shows you understand the work.

## What if you didn't land an internship?

You can still break in. Sales jobs outside healthcare, customer-facing campus jobs and leadership roles all build the experience entry-level employers look for. If you've already graduated, most internships won't be open to you, since they require current enrollment. Look at associate sales rep and associate territory manager roles instead, many of which welcome recent graduates.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Are medical sales internships paid?

Yes. Every internship on The Lobby that posts pay is a paid program. Stryker lists $20 to $35 an hour with housing support, and McKesson lists $16.50 to $27.50 an hour.

### How much does a Stryker sales internship pay?

Stryker's summer 2027 sales internships list $20 to $35 an hour, plus a sign-on bonus, 11 paid holidays, and paid corporate housing or a living stipend depending on location.

### When do summer 2027 medical sales internships open?

Most opened between late August and October 2026. Stryker posted its summer 2027 sales internships on September 1, 2026. Apply as early as you can, since many programs hire on a rolling basis.

### Can freshmen or sophomores get a medical sales internship?

Some programs set a minimum. Merck Animal Health requires at least 2 years of college completed by May 2027, Benco Dental looks for students who have completed junior-level coursework, and Stryker only considers students who will still be enrolled after the summer.

### Does Medtronic or Boston Scientific offer sales internships?

Neither had a sales internship listed on The Lobby as of November 9, 2026. Check their careers sites directly, since postings change throughout the fall.

### Are there fall or spring medical sales internships?

People do search for them, but every medical sales internship listed on The Lobby as of November 9, 2026, was a summer program. Summer is the main hiring cycle.

### Do you need a specific major for a medical sales internship?

No. Most postings ask for a related field or list several options, such as business, marketing, healthcare administration and the sciences. A 3.0 GPA and relevant experience matter more than your major.

## Related Reading

- [How Much Do Stryker Reps Make? Here's a Breakdown of What Each Role Pays](https://thelobbynetwork.com/companies/stryker/faq/pay)
- [What Degree Do You Need for Medical Sales?](https://thelobbynetwork.com/articles/what-degree-do-you-need-for-medical-sales)
- [Is Medical Sales College Worth It? What 4,305 Jobs Say](https://thelobbynetwork.com/articles/is-medical-sales-college-worth-it)
- [How to Break Into Medical Device Sales With No Experience](https://thelobbynetwork.com/articles/how-to-break-into-medical-device-sales-with-no-experience)
- [The Best Associate Sales Rep Programs, and What Makes One Good](https://thelobbynetwork.com/articles/the-best-associate-sales-rep-programs-and-what-makes-one-good)

## Sources

1. The Lobby Network, medical sales internship postings listed on The Lobby (36 openings), Nov 9, 2026.
2. The Lobby Network, review of 298 entry-level medical sales job postings, Nov 2, 2026.

*Internship details on this page are sourced from current openings listed on The Lobby as of November 9, 2026. Openings, pay and dates change; check each posting for the latest details.*