Pharmaceutical sales representatives educate physicians on new drugs developed by pharmaceutical companies and advocate for their prescription to patients. Learn more about this high-paying sales career.
Pharmaceutical sales representatives work for drug companies, advocating for the use of their pharmaceutical products to physicians and other health care professionals. If you鈥檙e an aspiring sales professional with a knack for science, then you might consider joining this high-paying profession.听
In this article, you鈥檒l learn more about what pharmaceutical sales are, what sales representatives in the industry actually do, and what you can expect to earn from the job. At the end, you鈥檒l also find steps you can take to join the field and explore cost-effective online courses that can help you get started today.听
Pharmaceutical sales representatives are salespeople employed by pharmaceutical companies to advocate for the use of prescription medications by physicians and health care facilities. Pharmaceutical sales are the practice of salespeople who educate health care professionals on specific medications developed by drug companies in order to persuade them to prescribe them to patients rather than a competitor product or treatment method.听
While the day-to-day work of a pharmaceutical sales representative may vary based on their specific role, some of their most common duties include:
Establishing and maintaining customer relations, such as by scheduling meetings with physicians to discuss new pharmaceutical products.听聽
Educating physicians on the uses and side effects of different prescription drugs within a company鈥檚 product line.听
Staying up-to-date on new drug developments and pertinent health care issues by attending continuing education workshops.听
Attending sales meetings to learn about company goals and new pharmaceutical products.听
Conducting competitor research and maintaining customer sales records.听
Pharmaceutical sales representatives enjoy a higher-than-average salary alongside relatively consistent job growth. Here鈥檚 what you can expect from the position in terms of pay and job outlook:聽
Sales representatives for the pharmaceutical industry earn a higher-than-average pay, which is typically comprised of a base salary, earned commission, and occasionally a bonus.听
According to Glassdoor, pharmaceutical sales representatives earned an average salary of $173,701, which consisted of an average base salary of $86,159 and an average commission of $87,542 [].
What you can expect to earn, though, is significantly impacted by your years of experience. According to Glassdoor, the average base salary based on work experience was as follows []:
0 to 1 years: $57,082
1 to 3 years: $62,040
4 to 6 years: $67,560
7 to 9 years: $73,992
10 to 14 years: $79,507
15+ years: $90,937
Whether you enter the field with a lot of experience or very little, you can still expect to earn a much higher-than-average salary as a sales rep working within the pharmaceutical industry.听
While there are no official statistics on the overall job growth for pharmaceutical sales representatives, US government research forecasts average job growth for sales representatives across all industries over the next decade. Specifically, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the number of jobs for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives will grow by 1 percent between 2023 and 2033, adding approximately 149,900 new job openings per year over the decade [].
Pharmaceutical sales representatives are highly sought-after jobs within the world of sales, particularly due to the high pay that they command. If you鈥檙e considering a career in this competitive sales field, then here are some steps you should consider taking to enter it:聽
While some other sales jobs might only require applicants to possess a high school diploma, many pharmaceutical sales jobs require that applicants possess bachelor鈥檚 degrees in a related field, such as marketing or health sciences. In some cases, employers may prefer applicants with a related master鈥檚 degree.听
Overall, while you won鈥檛 be expected to have a degree in chemistry or be a licensed pharmacist, you should expect that employers will prefer candidates with a strong grasp of relevant scientific concepts and the aptitude to learn new concepts related to drug development when required.听
Pharmaceutical sales representatives must pair well-honed sales skills and knowledge with a deep understanding of the drugs they鈥檒l be selling and the health care industry in which they work. If you鈥檙e interested in pursuing a career in the field, then make sure to work on building the following key skills:
Negotiation: the art of coming to an agreement that is beneficial to two or more parties. In sales, you鈥檒l have to negotiate with clients regularly, especially when closing a deal.听
Salesmanship: the skill of presenting a product or service in an enticing manner to potential customers. As a good salesperson, you鈥檒l have to anticipate customer needs and articulate why your product meets them.
Scientific aptitude and health care knowledge: You won鈥檛 be expected to have a doctoral-level understanding of pharmaceuticals, but you will be expected to learn relevant scientific concepts regularly on the job and understand the health system as a whole.
Get a crash course in the health care industry with the University of Minnesota鈥檚 Health Care Market Specialization, which covers everything you need to know about the health care marketplace, health care delivery providers, pharmaceutical and medical device innovations, and medical technology.听
Gain an upper hand in the industry by attending networking events to meet professionals already working in the field. As you鈥檙e looking for jobs, these contacts can help you get your foot in the door with hiring managers and inform you of potential job opportunities as they arise.听
Due to their high pay, pharmaceutical sales positions can be highly competitive. Much like the job of selling pharmaceuticals themselves, then, applying for sales positions within the pharmaceutical industry requires persistence and resilience to produce successful results. Don鈥檛 let rejection discourage you from continuing to apply for the job. Instead, use it as an opportunity to embody the same sales tenacity you鈥檒l need to do the job itself.听
To excel as a pharmaceutical sales representative, you鈥檒l need to master the art of sales. Prepare for a career in the field by taking a cost-effective online course through 糖心vlog官网观看 today.
In the beginner-friendly course, How to Sell: An Overview of Fundamental Selling Techniques, you鈥檒l gain an understanding of the fundamentals of sales, including building rapport with customers and aligning the sales process with the customer鈥檚 buying journey. You can go deeper with Kennesaw State University鈥檚 Professional Selling: 3 Steps to High-Performance Specialization, a three-course program designed to help you succeed.听聽
Glassdoor. 鈥.鈥 Accessed January 29, 2025.
US BLS. 鈥, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/wholesale-and-manufacturing-sales-representatives.htm#tab-6.鈥 Accessed January 29, 2025.
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