Pharmaceutical sales representative vs outside sales representative

The differences between pharmaceutical sales representatives and outside 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 an outside 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 $60,443 average annual salary of an outside sales representative.

The top three skills for a pharmaceutical sales representative include patients, pharmaceutical products and develop strong relationships. The most important skills for an outside sales representative are customer service, work ethic, and sales process.

Pharmaceutical sales representative vs outside sales representative overview

	Pharmaceutical Sales Representative	Outside Sales Representative
Yearly salary	$68,571	$60,443
Hourly rate	$32.97	$29.06
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	102,935	218,034
Job satisfaction	5	4.5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 85%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	2	4

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 an outside sales representative do?

An Outside Sales Representative specializes in customer service and relations, focusing on reaching sales targets through selling and networking with clients. Among the duties revolve around reaching out to customers through calls, email, or even arranging appointments, monitoring and keeping an organized record of sales, communicating with managers or supervisors, adhering to the company's policies and regulations, and keeping extensive knowledge about the brand and the trends. Besides building rapport with customers, it is also essential for an Outside Sales Representative to be proactive and create strategies to help meet the sales target.

Pharmaceutical sales representative vs outside sales representative salary

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

	Pharmaceutical Sales Representative	Outside Sales Representative
Average salary	$68,571	$60,443
Salary range	Between $42,000 And $110,000	Between $41,000 And $87,000
Highest paying City	Boston, MA	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	Massachusetts	New Jersey
Best paying company	Eli Lilly and Company	Microsoft
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Manufacturing

Differences between pharmaceutical sales representative and outside sales representative education

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

	Pharmaceutical Sales Representative	Outside Sales Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 85%	Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Pharmaceutical sales representative vs outside sales representative demographics

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

	Pharmaceutical Sales Representative	Outside Sales Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0%	Male, 71.5% Female, 28.5%
Race ratio	Black 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, 14.4% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between pharmaceutical sales representative and outside 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.

Outside sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage and maintain a weekly quota for broadband, and other wireless products.
Utilize CRM database to manage and track prospect interaction to ensure accurate documentation of window requirements and ongoing communication.
Web dev, SEO, PPC etc . )
Participate in the launching and marketing of broadband internet in Orlando with great success.
Provide care, materials, and essential tools for doctors and nurses working on patients in the E.R.
Create and maintain successful business partnerships with customers by analyzing, meeting and understanding their needs and patients needs.

Pharmaceutical sales representative vs outside 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 outside sales representative skills

Customer Service, 17%
Work Ethic, 8%
Sales Process, 4%
Business Sales, 4%
Cold Calls, 4%
Product Knowledge, 4%

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Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative vs Outside Sales Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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