Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a pharmaceutical sales specialist
Quoted expert
Dawn Hogue
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for pharmaceutical sales specialists in the United States. Pharmaceutical sales specialist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for pharmaceutical sales specialists.We wanted to look at the best states for pharmaceutical sales specialists -- where there are plenty of pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs to go around and pharmaceutical sales specialists get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
In order to get you the best states for pharmaceutical sales specialists, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a pharmaceutical sales specialist, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for pharmaceutical sales specialists in 2026
1. New Jersey
Total pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs: 2,376 Average annual salary: $88,223 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. New York
Total pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs: 3,187 Average annual salary: $90,218 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.03
3. Arizona
Total pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs: 1,632 Average annual salary: $79,886 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
4. California
Total pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs: 8,269 Average annual salary: $88,228 Lowest 10 percent earn: $53,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $145,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
5. Rhode Island
Total pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs: 323 Average annual salary: $78,601 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
6. Ohio
Total pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs: 2,723 Average annual salary: $76,761 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
7. Nevada
Total pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs: 445 Average annual salary: $92,002 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
8. Vermont
Total pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs: 198 Average annual salary: $79,211 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
9. Oregon
Total pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs: 1,103 Average annual salary: $78,756 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 1.1
10. Maryland
Total pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs: 1,414 Average annual salary: $88,592 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $148,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
Pharmaceutical sales specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a pharmaceutical sales specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a pharmaceutical sales specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $88,223 | $52,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,376 |
| 2 | New York | $90,218 | $54,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,187 |
| 3 | Arizona | $79,886 | $49,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,632 |
| 4 | California | $88,228 | $53,000 | 39,536,653 | 8,269 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $78,601 | $47,000 | 1,059,639 | 323 |
| 6 | Ohio | $76,761 | $46,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,723 |
| 7 | Nevada | $92,002 | $55,000 | 2,998,039 | 445 |
| 8 | Vermont | $79,211 | $46,000 | 623,657 | 198 |
| 9 | Oregon | $78,756 | $47,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,103 |
| 10 | Maryland | $88,592 | $52,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,414 |
| 11 | Washington | $85,464 | $52,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,584 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $77,714 | $46,000 | 3,588,184 | 973 |
| 13 | Michigan | $89,039 | $54,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,345 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $78,169 | $46,000 | 6,859,819 | 2,165 |
| 15 | Delaware | $75,378 | $44,000 | 961,939 | 303 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $75,962 | $45,000 | 1,815,857 | 313 |
| 17 | Virginia | $77,097 | $45,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,118 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $72,329 | $43,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,192 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $77,182 | $45,000 | 1,342,795 | 335 |
| 20 | Texas | $71,921 | $43,000 | 28,304,596 | 4,729 |
| 21 | Colorado | $78,490 | $48,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,271 |
| 22 | Utah | $67,804 | $40,000 | 3,101,833 | 808 |
| 23 | Idaho | $70,855 | $42,000 | 1,716,943 | 382 |
| 24 | Kansas | $71,270 | $44,000 | 2,913,123 | 631 |
| 25 | Florida | $65,590 | $38,000 | 20,984,400 | 5,096 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $65,469 | $41,000 | 579,315 | 147 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $70,408 | $45,000 | 755,393 | 162 |
| 28 | Alabama | $64,411 | $38,000 | 4,874,747 | 1,061 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $61,279 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 3,490 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $72,942 | $43,000 | 693,972 | 362 |
| 31 | Missouri | $69,637 | $43,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,094 |
| 32 | Maine | $66,394 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 285 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $67,529 | $43,000 | 869,666 | 185 |
| 34 | Illinois | $65,079 | $40,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,672 |
| 35 | Iowa | $61,200 | $38,000 | 3,145,711 | 867 |
| 36 | Indiana | $63,932 | $39,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,318 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $65,154 | $38,000 | 4,684,333 | 627 |
| 38 | Georgia | $60,909 | $36,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,416 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $55,464 | $34,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,375 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $63,997 | $39,000 | 3,930,864 | 549 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $65,732 | $40,000 | 2,088,070 | 310 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $58,712 | $35,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,289 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $56,121 | $34,000 | 3,004,279 | 562 |
| 44 | Montana | $41,069 | $25,000 | 1,050,493 | 278 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $51,210 | $30,000 | 5,024,369 | 982 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $55,197 | $35,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,350 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $47,289 | $29,000 | 1,920,076 | 492 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $42,728 | $32,000 | 1,427,538 | 181 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $56,755 | $33,000 | 2,984,100 | 334 |
| 50 | Alaska | $54,455 | $35,000 | 739,795 | 153 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $50,676 | $30,000 | 4,454,189 | 743 |
Highest paying states for pharmaceutical sales specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $88,223 |
| 2 | New York | $90,218 |
| 3 | Arizona | $79,886 |
| 4 | California | $88,228 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $78,601 |
| 6 | Ohio | $76,761 |
| 7 | Nevada | $92,002 |
| 8 | Vermont | $79,211 |
| 9 | Oregon | $78,756 |
| 10 | Maryland | $88,592 |
| 11 | Washington | $85,464 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $77,714 |
| 13 | Michigan | $89,039 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $78,169 |
| 15 | Delaware | $75,378 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $75,962 |
| 17 | Virginia | $77,097 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $72,329 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $77,182 |
| 20 | Texas | $71,921 |
| 21 | Colorado | $78,490 |
| 22 | Utah | $67,804 |
| 23 | Idaho | $70,855 |
| 24 | Kansas | $71,270 |
| 25 | Florida | $65,590 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $65,469 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $70,408 |
| 28 | Alabama | $64,411 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $61,279 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $72,942 |
| 31 | Missouri | $69,637 |
| 32 | Maine | $66,394 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $67,529 |
| 34 | Illinois | $65,079 |
| 35 | Iowa | $61,200 |
| 36 | Indiana | $63,932 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $65,154 |
| 38 | Georgia | $60,909 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $55,464 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $63,997 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $65,732 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $58,712 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $56,121 |
| 44 | Montana | $41,069 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $51,210 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $55,197 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $47,289 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $42,728 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $56,755 |
| 50 | Alaska | $54,455 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $50,676 |
Expert opinions on the best states for pharmaceutical sales specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for pharmaceutical sales specialists to find work opportunities?
Dawn Hogue
Executive Director, Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation
With regard to the massage therapy profession, there is no location that is without clients who can use the services of a massage therapist. Large cities, rural counties, and everything in between provide opportunities for massage therapists to be employed. Anywhere there are people who are stressed out and in pain, is an opportunity to build a business!
Pharmaceutical sales specialist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common sales questions.
Search for pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025