-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 R4rAkoadSQ68gq5DaR6Tx+c2f9tXv0XuQcjnJaiGtbKmMKuylwabdiOnUmsmiXKG
 cTV4TGsIURSbE2dsR6mG8Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001054102-05-000008.txt : 20051202
<SEC-HEADER>0001054102-05-000008.hdr.sgml : 20051202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051202150611
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001054102-05-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050607
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051202
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PDI INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001054102
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				222919486
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SADDLE RIVER EXECUTIVE CENTRE
		STREET 2:		1 ROUTE 17 SOUTH
		CITY:			SADDLE RIVER
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07458
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2012588450

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SADDLE RIVER EXECUTIVE CENTRE
		STREET 2:		1 ROUTE 17 SOUTH
		CITY:			SADDLE RIVER
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07458

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PROFESSIONAL DETAILING INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980129

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ELLBERGER LARRY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219551

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-46321
		FILM NUMBER:		051240564

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PDI INC
		STREET 2:		10 MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD
		CITY:			UPPER SADDLE RIVER
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07458
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8002427494

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PDI INC
		STREET 2:		SADDLE RIVER EXEC CENTRE, 1 RT 17 SOUTH
		CITY:			SADDLE RIVER
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07458
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-07</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2005-06-07</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001054102</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PDI INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PDII</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219551</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ELLBERGER LARRY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PDI INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SADDLE RIVER EXEC CENTRE, 1 RT 17 SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SADDLE RIVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07458</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock option vests 33 1/3% per year for three years beginning on date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Inadvertently reported as 7,500 shares in original filing.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Larry Ellberger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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