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Job outlook for pharmaceutical representatives in the United States
Pharmaceutical representative job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected pharmaceutical representative job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 63,300 new jobs for pharmaceutical representatives are projected over the next decade.
Pharmaceutical representative salaries have increased 10% for pharmaceutical representatives in the last 5 years.
There are over 98,064 pharmaceutical representatives currently employed in the United States.
There are 51,956 active pharmaceutical representative job openings in the US.
The average pharmaceutical representative salary is $66,166.
Are pharmaceutical representative jobs in demand?
Pharmaceutical representative job and salary trends over time
Pharmaceutical representative jobs over time
Pharmaceutical representative job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98,064 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 106,166 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 113,103 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 115,314 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 120,550 | 0.04% |
Average pharmaceutical representative salary over time
Pharmaceutical representative salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $66,166 | $31.81 | +6.9% |
| 2024 | $61,867 | $29.74 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $60,844 | $29.25 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $60,195 | $28.94 | --0.2% |
| 2021 | $60,310 | $28.99 | +3.7% |
Pharmaceutical representative jobs by state
Most common states for pharmaceutical representatives
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 320 | 46% |
| 2 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 422 | 40% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,271 | 33% |
| 4 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 338 | 32% |
| 5 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 2,772 | 31% |
| 6 | Vermont | 623,657 | 192 | 31% |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3,707 | 29% |
| 8 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,209 | 29% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,561 | 28% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 369 | 27% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 814 | 26% |
| 12 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 2,899 | 25% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 481 | 25% |
| 14 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,941 | 23% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,420 | 23% |
| 16 | Delaware | 961,939 | 226 | 23% |
| 17 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 4,534 | 22% |
| 18 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 2,307 | 22% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 806 | 22% |
| 20 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 677 | 22% |
Pharmaceutical Representative job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of pharmaceutical representative experts
University of Maryland - College Park
Denison University
Oklahoma Baptist University
Thomas More University
What general advice would you give to a Pharmaceutical Representative?
Hank Boyd: Demonstrated proficiency in sales represents a feather in your cap. For many
CEOs, they started their illustrious career in sales. Nowadays, it is a common
launchpad for scores of successful business executives in consumer package goods.
Why is this so? Savvy companies know that it is paramount that new hires
quickly learn who the real target consumers are. Spending time on the front lines will
enhance your later contributions to the firm. For example, after obtaining my MBA from
Berkeley, I had the good fortune to land a sales position at Merck. I served as a Hospital
Representative specializing in broad spectrum antibiotics. My territory consisted of
Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto VA Medical Center, and the Santa Clara
Valley Medical Center.
After 18 months of working diligently in territory, I was offered a promotion to
work inside at Merck's headquarters in Rahway, New Jersey. Once I truly knew the
needs and concerns of my clients - general surgeons, urologists, gastroenterologists,
urologists, and infectious disease specialists - Merck was confident I could craft
relevant literature pieces and design compelling ad campaigns to reach target
physicians.
Mastery of general sales is a highly coveted asset. Once you conquer a given
product domain, the artform of sales is entirely transferrable. Case in point, it is not
unusual for you to begin in pharmaceuticals and then effortlessly segue into medical
equipment sales after a couple of years.
What will help Pharmaceutical Representatives increase their earning potential?
Hank Boyd: Nothing provides greater leverage in salary negotiations than having
documented sales experience. My advice would be to garner as much experience as you
can while in college. For example, you could fundraise for a nonprofit cause or a local
political campaign. If you have affiliation with a fraternity or sorority, volunteer to
serve on its recruitment committee. The bottom line is that you must convince any
potential employer that you naturally relate to people from all walks of life.
What will help Pharmaceutical Representatives increase their earning potential?
Ashley Strausser: Graduates need to do their research, know their worth and negotiate their job offer. It amazes me how many students accept the salary offered to them without considering negotiation. Graduates should do their due diligence using sites such as Glassdoor and Salary.com to compare their salary offer to similar roles in the same region. If you are going to negotiate, you must be able to make a strong case as to why you are deserving of more money. This cannot be based on what you feel you deserve, but rather the skills you possess, relevant experiences you've had and the tangible results you've achieved that will enable you to be successful in the role. Evaluate the job description to determine if you possess some, or perhaps many, of the desired qualifications beyond the minimum qualifications listed. If so, use those as part of your negotiation. If not, consider how you might be able to develop those desired qualifications to make you a stronger candidate.
Competitive candidates should have a strong, well-rounded skill set. Being able to articulate your skills and experiences (academic, co-curricular, internships, research, study abroad, etc.) both on your resume and in an interview is critical. Know the skills necessary to be effective in the roles you seek. If you are lacking skills essential to your desired roles or industries, consider completing online courses or certifications through LinkedIn Learning or Coursera. Take advantage of skill-building resources and programs available through your university. Finally, research and prepare well for your interviews. This includes conducting mock interviews with staff in your career center to practice and gain valuable feedback on ways to improve your interviewing skills.
Dr. Daryl Green
Associate Professor of BusinessOklahoma Baptist University
College of Business
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Pharmaceutical Representative job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Daryl Green: Today's students need to embrace emerging market trends. For marketing students, the marketing concept means intimately understanding your customers and satisfying their immediate needs. The lingering pandemic from 2020 will make the job hunt more difficult this year. From my research, here are 2021 employment trends to consider:
Marketing strategy still matters. Today's businesses are using ineffective marketing strategies despite using digital tactics like social media platforms. According to HubSpot, only 61% of marketers believe their marketing strategy is effective. Yet, they are still pouring massive amounts of dollars into digital advertising. Understanding the basic marketing strategies will equip college grads for the challenges ahead.
Artificial intelligence and automation rise in 2021. Marketing professionals will need to be more tech-savvy. AI will make analyzing and implementing decisions more efficient. According to a McKinsey study, Netflix saved $1 billion in lost revenue in 2017 by using machine learning to make personalized recommendations. Other businesses, like Amazon, are doing the same.
Data analytics continue to emerge as a critical ingredient for market decision making. About 82% of marketers plan to increase their usage of first-party data (Source: Signal). Taking a marketing analytics course will be helpful to graduates.
Digital platforms will continue to dominate the economy. Thus, an online presence is essential. According to a Bright Edge study, digital ad spending will reach $389 billion in 2021. Thus, students need good digital literacy to succeed.
Mobile platforms like smartphones are the future. As for May of 2020, Google was responsible for 67% of all smartphone search traffic.
How have salaries changed over time for Pharmaceutical Representatives?
Dr. Daryl Green: Based on my research, I predict that the current salaries for marketing majors will be unchanged from 2020. There are 'riches in niches.' Certain areas, like marketing analytics, may see a surge. For example, market research analysts are projected to grow 18 percent from 2019 to 2029, according to US BLS. However, Covid-19 is the X-factor for the economy.
Dr. John D. (Jack) Rudnick
ProfessorThomas More University
Department of Business Administration and Accountancy
How have salaries changed over time for Pharmaceutical Representatives?
Dr. John D. (Jack) Rudnick: The consolidation of health systems into larger entities throughout the continuum and the infusion of private equity into healthcare have prompted meteoric rises in base salaries and bonuses for many executives. Reimbursement specialists and strategy consultants have also benefited from salary increases over the past 40 years. Salaries have shifted to more of an incentive-based model with a foundational base salary aligned with bonuses linked to pre-established metrics aimed at revenue-growth and expense reduction to optimize a health organization's return-on-investment (ROI).