How Much Does Pharmaceutical Sales Reps Make?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries

as high as $132,227 and as low as $29,493

, the majority of Pharmaceutical Sales Representative salaries currently range between $71,766 (25th percentile) to $111,582 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $124,854 annually in California.

How are pharmaceutical reps paid?

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 being a pharmaceutical sales rep worth it?


The job of a pharmaceutical sales representative is a highly desired one

. With a high salary, excellent benefits and perks, and the potential for growth, it’s easy to see why. In fact, on average, pharmaceutical sales reps earn $103,300 each year, not including commissions.

How much do pharmaceutical sales reps make USA?

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.

What sales jobs pay the most?

  • Pharmaceutical sales representative. …
  • Direct sales representative. …
  • Business development representative. …
  • Sales engineer. …
  • Sales professional. …
  • Sales manager. …
  • Real estate agent. National average salary: $107,989 per year. …
  • Vice president of sales. National average salary: $110,945 per year.

Is it hard to be a pharmaceutical sales rep?

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.

Is pharma sales 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).

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

?

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.

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.

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 difficult is medical sales?

While it’s true that medical sales is a highly competitive field and

the workload is demanding

, if you’re up to the challenge, it’s possible to begin building your career and making a name for yourself almost immediately. It’s important to understand, though, that unlike other fields, medical sales is a journey.

Do pharmaceutical sales reps travel?

Travel often


The best paid medical sales reps are always on the road

. They’re visiting different territories, meeting new clients, and reaching out to contacts across the map. In fact, our salary report found that those who travel 50 percent of the time earn $167,061, on average.

Is pharmaceutical sales commission based?

Years of Experience

Experience is a major factor in determining the salary of a pharmaceutical sales rep. That’s because the job is

largely commission-based

, so you earn more money the more sales you close.

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.

Can you get rich in sales?


Yes, it is possible to become a millionaire or a multi-millionaire as a salesperson

. I’ve worked with some salespeople who regularly make more than $1 million a year from sales and at least three of my clients have made more than $10 million in one year from sales. That’s not how much they sold. That is their income.

Why do salespeople get paid so much?

As a company scales, revenue per engineer should skyrocket. But salespeople do not get much more productive and revenue for salesperson is much more constant over time. That means that

salespeople are always in demand

. There is always need for more great salespeople since they are often directly tied to more revenue.

Which pharma company pays the most?

-based

Infinity Pharmaceuticals

provides median pay of $495,513. Infinity was the highest-ranking pharma or biotech company on the list.

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.

How long does it take to complete pharmaceutical sales training?

The PRC program takes on average about

4 weeks

(12 hours course time) to complete. It’s self-paced, so everyone will be different.

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.

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.

Why are pharmaceutical sales reps attractive?

“Drug reps are cheerful, charming.

They provide both appreciation and information

. Unfortunately, the information they provide is innately unreliable.” Physicians respond by writing more prescriptions for the targeted drug, she said.

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 you wear to a pharmaceutical sales interview?

DO dress professionally.


Wear a business suit and dress conservatively

. Men should be clean-shaven and have hair of an appropriate length. Ladies must be careful not to wear too much makeup, too much perfume or anything that might be revealing.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.