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The differences between pharmaceutical sales representatives and 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 representative takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a pharmaceutical sales representative has an average salary of $68,571, which is higher than the $36,023 average annual salary of a representative.
The top three skills for a pharmaceutical sales representative include patients, pharmaceutical products and develop strong relationships. The most important skills for a representative are cleanliness, patients, and customer issues.
| Pharmaceutical Sales Representative | Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $68,571 | $36,023 |
| Hourly rate | $32.97 | $17.32 |
| Growth rate | 4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 102,935 | 252,761 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
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.
Representatives are lawmakers who represent the people in a specific district. They run for office to represent their districts in their hometown or their current place of living. Representatives are usually charismatic and good communicators. These characteristics are especially important during campaign and election periods. Representatives should be able to capture the hearts of the voters through their planned projects and advocacies. They are then elected by their constituents. Upon election, representatives author bills that will eventually be passed into law should it be approved by the majority of the congress. They also vote on the passage of bills authored by other representatives. They also participate in discussions and debates regarding different bills, issues, and laws. Representatives are expected to vote according to their conscience and in consideration of the voice of their constituents.
Pharmaceutical sales representatives and representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pharmaceutical Sales Representative | Representative | |
| Average salary | $68,571 | $36,023 |
| Salary range | Between $42,000 And $110,000 | Between $23,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | New York |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a pharmaceutical sales representative and a representative in terms of educational background:
| Pharmaceutical Sales Representative | Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | - |
Here are the differences between pharmaceutical sales representatives' and representatives' demographics:
| Pharmaceutical Sales Representative | Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0% | Male, 41.8% Female, 58.2% |
| 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, 11.0% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 7% |