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Pharmaceutical sales representative vs field sales representative

The differences between pharmaceutical sales 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 sales representative, becoming a field sales representative takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a pharmaceutical sales representative has an average salary of $68,571, which is higher than the $48,460 average annual salary of a field sales representative.

The top three skills for a pharmaceutical sales representative include patients, pharmaceutical products and develop strong relationships. The most important skills for a field sales representative are excellent time management, customer service, and powerpoint.

Pharmaceutical sales representative vs field sales representative overview

Pharmaceutical Sales RepresentativeField Sales Representative
Yearly salary$68,571$48,460
Hourly rate$32.97$23.30
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs102,935228,254
Job satisfaction55
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Average age4747
Years of experience24

What does a pharmaceutical sales representative do?

The job of pharmaceutical sales representatives is to inform and educate doctors about a company's medical and pharmaceutical products. They serve as the link between a company and healthcare professionals to hit sales targets. They have varied responsibilities, including assessing clients' needs and presenting suitable products, delivering product samples, and working sales teams to develop and implement brand strategies. This role's qualifications include relevant work experience, excellent communication, sales, negotiation skills, and a bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

What does a field sales representative do?

A field sales representative is an employee who is employed by business-to-business (B2B) and wholesale organizations to visit leads and sell products or services to their customers in person. Field sales representatives must attract new customers and win new accounts so that they can maximize profitability within their territory. They travel around their assigned territory and visit their customers regularly to educate them on how their products can benefit them. Field sales representatives must also maintain records of all sales leads and monitor the organization's competitor, new products, and market conditions.

Pharmaceutical sales representative vs field sales representative salary

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

Pharmaceutical Sales RepresentativeField Sales Representative
Average salary$68,571$48,460
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $110,000Between $26,000 And $88,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsWashington
Best paying companyEli Lilly and CompanyVMware
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalTechnology

Differences between pharmaceutical sales representative and field sales representative education

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

Pharmaceutical Sales RepresentativeField Sales Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 85%Bachelor's Degree, 73%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaSUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Pharmaceutical sales representative vs field sales representative demographics

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

Pharmaceutical Sales RepresentativeField Sales Representative
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 41.0% Female, 59.0%Male, 69.5% Female, 30.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.3% 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 sales representative and field sales representative duties and responsibilities

Pharmaceutical sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage and establish relationships within specialty urology and neurology markets to drive new and existing therapies.
  • Demonstrate strong teamwork skills by partnering with Novartis counterparts and other pharmaceutical consultants to achieve company and individual goals.
  • Manage Santa Rosa/San Francisco territories, marketing and selling respiratory, urology, cardiology to pharmacies and primary care physicians.
  • Retail sales division promoting drugs in gastroenterology, endocrinology, pain management and infectious disease.
  • Call on and maintain relationships with primary care physicians, cardiologists, nephrologists, internists, gastroenterologists, and endocrinologists.
  • Call on primary care physicians, cardiologists, neurologists, endocrinologists, and vascular surgeons.
  • Show more

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 sales representative vs field sales representative skills

Common pharmaceutical sales representative skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Pharmaceutical Products, 8%
  • Develop Strong Relationships, 6%
  • Territory Management, 5%
  • FDA, 4%
  • Business Plan, 4%
Common field sales representative skills
  • Excellent Time Management, 17%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • PowerPoint, 6%
  • Medicare, 6%
  • Account Management, 6%
  • Sales Presentations, 5%