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The differences between professional healthcare representatives and pharmaceutical sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a professional healthcare representative and a pharmaceutical sales representative. Additionally, a pharmaceutical sales representative has an average salary of $68,571, which is higher than the $37,042 average annual salary of a professional healthcare representative.
The top three skills for a professional healthcare representative include government agencies, patients and product portfolio. The most important skills for a pharmaceutical sales representative are patients, pharmaceutical products, and develop strong relationships.
| Professional Healthcare Representative | Pharmaceutical Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $37,042 | $68,571 |
| Hourly rate | $17.81 | $32.97 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 127,891 | 102,935 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 85% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Professional Healthcare representatives are sales employees who manage the company's healthcare products and healthcare client accounts. They are in charge of achieving the sales targets of the company. They form good relationships with clients and distributors to ensure continued business with them. They may visit their clients' office from time to time to check in on them and to provide samples of new products. Professional Healthcare Representatives should be updated on the latest trends in the healthcare industry, as well as new product releases related to their company's main business. They should also know all the pertinent details on the products they sell so they can answer their clients' questions.
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.
Professional healthcare representatives and pharmaceutical sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Professional Healthcare Representative | Pharmaceutical Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $37,042 | $68,571 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $59,000 | Between $42,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Torrance, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Cognizant | Eli Lilly and Company |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a professional healthcare representative and a pharmaceutical sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Professional Healthcare Representative | Pharmaceutical Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 85% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between professional healthcare representatives' and pharmaceutical sales representatives' demographics:
| Professional Healthcare Representative | Pharmaceutical Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.7% Female, 58.3% | Male, 41.0% Female, 59.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |