How Are Pharmaceutical Reps Paid?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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With most pharmaceutical companies

you get a salary and you also get paid commission on your drugs that you sell

. So, if you sell 160 percent of one product, you get paid on 60 percent over that quota. The more you sell the more you make, so the harder you work, the more money you make.

Is pharmaceutical rep a good career?

According to Quint Careers, pharmaceuticals sales is considered

one of the fastest-growing career opportunities

, with a 300% growth rate in the last decade. In addition to fantastic job growth, these positions nationally average a salary of $64,000 (Glassdoor).

Is getting into pharmaceutical sales hard?

It’s a reality for pharmaceutical company representatives. But the work isn’t pure glamour. It’s also

intense, highly competitive and sometimes frustrating

. Insiders say it’s difficult to get your foot in the door with a drug company, and that it’s challenging to excel once you’ve landed that first sales job.

How stressful is pharmaceutical sales?

Stress. Medical sales jobs also come with

considerable stress

. Some respondents specifically cited stress caused by the pressure to make quotas, while others mentioned stress caused by the increasing difficulty of gaining vendor clearances.

How much did Purdue Pharma reps make?

The typical Purdue Pharma Sales Representative salary is

$89,218 per year

. Sales Representative salaries at Purdue Pharma can range from $74,209 – $109,181 per year.

What do pharmaceutical reps wear?

Their clothes should be fresh, neat, clean and pressed. The reps should be well-groomed, paying attention to hair, face and nails. Do the pharmaceutical reps need to dress in

formal business attire such as suit and tie for men and skirted suits or matching pants suits for women

?

What is the highest paying medical sales job?

At first glance, it appears the top earners are

Sales Directors and VPs working in biotech

. After all, according to the 2016 Medical Sales Salary Report, Sales Director / VP is the highest paid job title (average total $209,082), and biotech is the highest paying product category (average total $165,028).

How much did Penny make as a pharmaceutical rep?

2 Pharmaceutical Sales Rep.

If that’s true, Penny is likely making anywhere from

$100,000-300,000

thanks to her commission and being one of the top salespeople in the country.

Can you make a lot of money in pharmaceutical sales?


In 2019, the average rep salary was $151,217

, which includes an average base salary of $109,250 and an average bonus of $41,967. That’s a 6% increase, or almost $8,000, over the average salary for pharma sales reps from MedReps’ 2018 survey.

Are pharmaceutical reps happy?

A whopping

80 percent say they’re happy with their pay

, and 80 percent say they’re happy with their job, overall. It’s easy to assume job satisfaction is linked to their high earnings. After all, the average total compensation for pharmaceutical sales professionals in 2018 is $133,563, as the survey found.

What is a typical day for a pharmaceutical sales rep?

Day-to-day duties vary based on the company they work for, the territory they are assigned to, and the medications they are representing. However, typical responsibilities include:

Scheduling meetings with medical professionals

. Educating medical professionals about the effectiveness, use, and side effects of drugs.

How do I break into pharmaceutical sales?

  1. Earn your high school diploma or GED.
  2. Get a bachelor’s degree.
  3. Consider earning a graduate degree.
  4. Get certified.
  5. Network.
  6. Work on your skillset.
  7. Prepare your resume and cover letter.

What is the best pharmaceutical company to work for?

  • Johnson & Johnson: 24 out of 100. …
  • Pfizer: 39 out of 100. …
  • Merck: 63 out of 100. …
  • Bristol Myers Squibb: 78 out of 100. …
  • Eli Lilly: 87 out of 100. …
  • Novartis: 92 out of 100.

Is medical sales rep hard?

Medical device sales is a

highly competitive and demanding field

, but it is also very rewarding, so it’s no surprise that many people want to get into this industry and begin their career path.

Is medical sales College legit?

Medical Sales College is

a licensed college

specifically designed for those interested in the orthopedic device sales industry. It was founded in 2010 by Jim Rogers, the current CEO, who spent 25 years in sales and sales management roles.

How much did Purdue Pharma reps make with OxyContin?

According to the statement of facts from the 2007 plea agreement, Purdue made about

$2.8 billion

in revenue from OxyContin from January 1996 to the middle of 2001. Bankruptcy filings from last year show members of the Sackler family have made $12 to $13 billion from Purdue.

How rich is the Sackler family?

THE Sackler family is one of the richest in America – worth a whopping

$13billion

. They are best known for being at the center of the US opioid crisis, and former Purdue Pharma boss Richard Sackler had a leading role.

Is OxyContin still prescribed?

OxyContin, a trade name for the narcotic oxycodone hydrochloride, is a painkiller

available in the United States only by prescription

. OxyContin is legitimately prescribed for relief of moderate to severe pain resulting from injuries, bursitis, neuralgia, arthritis, and cancer.

How do I become a good pharmaceutical sales rep?

  1. Good People Skills. You need to have good people skills when going out to market a product. …
  2. Strong Product Knowledge. …
  3. Comfortable with Public Speaking. …
  4. Manage Your Own Time. …
  5. Industry-Specific Skills. …
  6. Be Ready to Travel Anytime. …
  7. Get Your CNPR Training.

What should a medical device rep wear?

Poor dress code. To get the attention of a potential client, it is wise to invest in proper clothing and accessories such as

watches tie, shoes, and even a designer perfume

. This portrays an image of pride and seriousness in whatever that you are selling.

What do medical sales reps do?

A medical sales representative

sells medical supplies to doctors, clinics, facilities and hospitals

. The job includes contacting potential customers, explaining the features and benefits of the product, answering questions about the product and negotiating the final deal.

Are medical sales reps rich?

Medical sales reps can work for manufacturers or distributors and may be employees or independent contractors. “

With an average total income of $133,654, medical sales professionals are some of the highest earners in the healthcare industry

,” Melhuish said.

How much do Medtronic pacemaker reps make?

The average Medtronic Sales Rep earns an estimated

$148,899 annually

, which includes an estimated base salary of $80,024 with a $68,875 bonus. Medtronic’s Sales Rep compensation is $38,381 more than the US average for a Sales Rep. Sales Rep salaries at Medtronic can range from $43,250 – $260,000.

What is the difference between medical sales and pharmaceutical sales?

This is probably the biggest difference between pharmaceutical and medical sales. In Medical sales, there is a true close. With pharmaceutical sales, the reps’ job is to convince their doctors to prescribe their product when they have a patient that could benefit from it.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.