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Pharmaceutical representative vs field sales representative

The differences between pharmaceutical representatives and field sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a pharmaceutical representative, becoming a field sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a pharmaceutical representative has an average salary of $66,166, which is higher than the $48,460 average annual salary of a field sales representative.

The top three skills for a pharmaceutical representative include pharmaceutical products, territory management and medical professionals. The most important skills for a field sales representative are excellent time management, customer service, and powerpoint.

Pharmaceutical representative vs field sales representative overview

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeField Sales Representative
Yearly salary$66,166$48,460
Hourly rate$31.81$23.30
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs51,956228,254
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4747
Years of experience24

Pharmaceutical representative vs field sales representative salary

Pharmaceutical representatives and field sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeField Sales Representative
Average salary$66,166$48,460
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $103,000Between $26,000 And $88,000
Highest paying City-Seattle, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-VMware
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between pharmaceutical representative and field sales representative education

There are a few differences between a pharmaceutical representative and a field sales representative in terms of educational background:

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeField Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Pharmaceutical representative vs field sales representative demographics

Here are the differences between pharmaceutical representatives' and field sales representatives' demographics:

Pharmaceutical RepresentativeField Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 44.3% Female, 55.7%Male, 69.5% Female, 30.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between pharmaceutical representative and field sales representative duties and responsibilities

Pharmaceutical representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage and promote cardiovascular and respiratory products to local cardiologist, endocrinologists & allergists.
  • Manage Santa Rosa/San Francisco territories, marketing and selling respiratory, urology, cardiology to pharmacies and primary care physicians.
  • Collaborate with institution, cardiology, and diabetes specialists to increase penetration and productivity in hospital and endocrinology.
  • Complete extensive training in disease states such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, allergy, neurology and pain management.
  • Promote pharmaceuticals in the anti-microbial, neurology and gastroenterology markets.
  • Conduct discussions for a new drug for the treatment of hypertension.
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Field sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Train and manage new DSR's.
  • Lead seminars for the CPA community for CPE credits.
  • Develop and manage sales in major retail accounts in the Mid-Atlantic region.
  • Manage and assist a vast customer base in the market for new roofing needs after a large hail storm in Lubbock.
  • Manage merchandising and POS materials at the retail store level ensuring meticulous compliance with all current corporate initiative regulations.
  • Conduct effective group Medicare HMO/PPO presentations/seminars, as well as one-on-one field sales presentations.
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Pharmaceutical representative vs field sales representative skills

Common pharmaceutical representative skills
  • Pharmaceutical Products, 17%
  • Territory Management, 13%
  • Medical Professionals, 7%
  • Market Share Growth, 6%
  • Neurology, 5%
  • Sales Growth, 5%
Common field sales representative skills
  • Excellent Time Management, 17%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • PowerPoint, 6%
  • Medicare, 6%
  • Account Management, 6%
  • Sales Presentations, 5%