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Pharmaceutical representative vs pharmaceutical sales specialist

The differences between pharmaceutical representatives and pharmaceutical sales specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a pharmaceutical representative and a pharmaceutical sales specialist. Additionally, a pharmaceutical sales specialist has an average salary of $73,003, which is higher than the $66,166 average annual salary of a pharmaceutical representative.

The top three skills for a pharmaceutical representative include pharmaceutical products, territory management and medical professionals. The most important skills for a pharmaceutical sales specialist are patients, sales territory, and diabetes.

Pharmaceutical representative vs pharmaceutical sales specialist overview

Pharmaceutical RepresentativePharmaceutical Sales Specialist
Yearly salary$66,166$73,003
Hourly rate$31.81$35.10
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs51,95623,474
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Average age4747
Years of experience22

Pharmaceutical representative vs pharmaceutical sales specialist salary

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

Pharmaceutical RepresentativePharmaceutical Sales Specialist
Average salary$66,166$73,003
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $103,000Between $47,000 And $112,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Nevada
Best paying company-AstraZeneca
Best paying industry-Pharmaceutical

Differences between pharmaceutical representative and pharmaceutical sales specialist education

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

Pharmaceutical RepresentativePharmaceutical Sales Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 80%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Pharmaceutical representative vs pharmaceutical sales specialist demographics

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

Pharmaceutical RepresentativePharmaceutical Sales Specialist
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 44.3% Female, 55.7%Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1%
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, 14.4% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between pharmaceutical representative and pharmaceutical sales specialist 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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Pharmaceutical sales specialist example responsibilities.

  • Organize and lead Coumadin education programs through Kroger pharmacies.
  • Accomplish daily sales activities and goals while working in a pod setting.
  • Train and lead development of new hire personal in CSS and primary care.
  • Achieve all sales goals and exceed projected goals for Q4 2012 and Q1 2013 ,
  • Attain #5 and #8 rankings nationally for TRX and NRX volume, out of 175 representatives.
  • Achieve territory highs in TRX and NRX first month in field by delivering a solid patient/provider benefit sales presentation.
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Pharmaceutical representative vs pharmaceutical sales specialist skills

Common pharmaceutical representative skills
  • Pharmaceutical Products, 17%
  • Territory Management, 13%
  • Medical Professionals, 7%
  • Market Share Growth, 6%
  • Neurology, 5%
  • Sales Growth, 5%
Common pharmaceutical sales specialist skills
  • Patients, 33%
  • Sales Territory, 8%
  • Diabetes, 7%
  • Business Plan, 7%
  • Sales Strategies, 7%
  • Sales Performance, 5%