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The differences between pharmaceutical sales people and associate 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 sales person, becoming an associate sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a pharmaceutical sales person has an average salary of $130,507, which is higher than the $51,007 average annual salary of an associate sales representative.
The top three skills for a pharmaceutical sales person include pharmaceutical products, sales territory and pharmaceutical sales. The most important skills for an associate sales representative are work ethic, patients, and product knowledge.
| Pharmaceutical Sales Person | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $130,507 | $51,007 |
| Hourly rate | $62.74 | $24.52 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 117,428 | 333,049 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
Pharmaceutical salespersons must have a wide range of skills, such as proven work in pharmaceutical or medical sales, familiarity with the latest medical issues, and knowledge of programs like MS Office. Paid at $92K per year, those who seek this career will be required to educate physicians on new pharmaceutical developments and connect providers with new knowledge, drugs, and treatments for cutting-edge patient care.
The duties of an associate sales representative depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Their responsibilities typically revolve around reaching out to clients through calls or door-to-door visits, offering products and services, collecting payments, addressing issues and concerns, and performing corrective measures when necessary. An associate sales representative often has a quota and deadline to reach; therefore, it is essential to be sales driven and goal-oriented. Furthermore, one must adhere to the policies and regulations of the company.
Pharmaceutical sales people and associate sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pharmaceutical Sales Person | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $130,507 | $51,007 |
| Salary range | Between $68,000 And $249,000 | Between $37,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | - | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | - | Verint |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a pharmaceutical sales person and an associate sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Pharmaceutical Sales Person | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between pharmaceutical sales people' and associate sales representatives' demographics:
| Pharmaceutical Sales Person | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 50.2% Female, 49.8% | Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |