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Pharmaceutical sales specialist salary
Average pharmaceutical sales specialist salary
$73,003
Understanding the Salary of Pharmaceutical Sales Specialists
As of October 2025, the average salary of a Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist is approximately $73,003 per year, equating to about $35 per hour. This salary can vary based on factors such as geographical location, years of experience, and the specific employer. For instance, states such as California and New York often feature higher salaries due to the cost of living and market demand.
Experience also plays a significant role in salary determination. Entry-level positions may start lower, while specialists with several years of experience can earn significantly more, potentially exceeding $100,000 annually. Additionally, certain companies within the pharmaceutical sector may offer bonuses and commissions, enhancing overall compensation packages.
In conclusion, pursuing a career as a Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist not only offers competitive pay but also provides opportunities for growth within the healthcare industry. Whether you’re just starting or looking to advance, understanding these salary dynamics can help you navigate your career path effectively.
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Where can a Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist earn more?
Pharmaceutical sales specialist salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level pharmaceutical sales specialist | $58,100 | $27.94 |
| Mid-level pharmaceutical sales specialist | $97,600 | $46.93 |
| Senior-level pharmaceutical sales specialist | $150,000 | $71.92 |
Pharmaceutical sales specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average pharmaceutical sales specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for pharmaceutical sales specialists are Nevada, New York, and Michigan. The lowest average pharmaceutical sales specialist salary states are Alaska, South Carolina, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for pharmaceutical sales specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $88,223 | $42.41 |
| 2 | New York | $90,218 | $43.37 |
| 3 | Arizona | $79,886 | $38.41 |
| 4 | California | $88,228 | $42.42 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $78,601 | $37.79 |
| 6 | Ohio | $76,761 | $36.90 |
| 7 | Nevada | $92,002 | $44.23 |
| 8 | Vermont | $79,211 | $38.08 |
| 9 | Oregon | $78,756 | $37.86 |
| 10 | Maryland | $88,592 | $42.59 |
| 11 | Washington | $85,464 | $41.09 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $77,714 | $37.36 |
| 13 | Michigan | $89,039 | $42.81 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $78,169 | $37.58 |
| 15 | Delaware | $75,378 | $36.24 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $75,962 | $36.52 |
| 17 | Virginia | $77,097 | $37.07 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $72,329 | $34.77 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $77,182 | $37.11 |
| 20 | Texas | $71,921 | $34.58 |
| 21 | Colorado | $78,490 | $37.74 |
| 22 | Utah | $67,804 | $32.60 |
| 23 | Idaho | $70,855 | $34.06 |
| 24 | Kansas | $71,270 | $34.26 |
| 25 | Florida | $65,590 | $31.53 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $65,469 | $31.48 |
| 27 | North Dakota | $70,408 | $33.85 |
| 28 | Alabama | $64,411 | $30.97 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $61,279 | $29.46 |
| 30 | District of Columbia | $72,942 | $35.07 |
| 31 | Missouri | $69,637 | $33.48 |
| 32 | Maine | $66,394 | $31.92 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $67,529 | $32.47 |
| 34 | Illinois | $65,079 | $31.29 |
| 35 | Iowa | $61,200 | $29.42 |
| 36 | Indiana | $63,932 | $30.74 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $65,154 | $31.32 |
| 38 | Georgia | $60,909 | $29.28 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $55,464 | $26.67 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $63,997 | $30.77 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $65,732 | $31.60 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $58,712 | $28.23 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $56,121 | $26.98 |
| 44 | Montana | $41,069 | $19.74 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| 46 | Minnesota | $55,197 | $26.54 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $47,289 | $22.74 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $42,728 | $20.54 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $56,755 | $27.29 |
| 50 | Alaska | $54,455 | $26.18 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $50,676 | $24.36 |
Highest paying cities for pharmaceutical sales specialists
The highest-paying cities for pharmaceutical sales specialists are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Providence, RI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $93,789 | $45.09 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $90,346 | $43.44 |
| 3 | Providence, RI | $78,634 | $37.80 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $77,955 | $37.48 |
| 5 | Wilmington, DE | $75,673 | $36.38 |
| 6 | Charleston, WV | $74,689 | $35.91 |
| 7 | Saint George, UT | $74,527 | $35.83 |
| 8 | Lubbock, TX | $73,309 | $35.24 |
| 9 | Cary, NC | $73,082 | $35.14 |
| 10 | Springfield, MO | $71,040 | $34.15 |
| 11 | Lenexa, KS | $70,137 | $33.72 |
| 12 | Bismarck, ND | $69,638 | $33.48 |
| 13 | Miami, FL | $65,524 | $31.50 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $65,455 | $31.47 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh, PA | $58,178 | $27.97 |
| 16 | Little Rock, AR | $56,690 | $27.25 |
| 17 | Saint Paul, MN | $55,293 | $26.58 |
| 18 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $42,724 | $20.54 |
Pharmaceutical sales specialist salary details
A pharmaceutical sales specialist's salary ranges from $47,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $112,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a pharmaceutical sales specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $112,000 | $9,333 | $54 |
| 75th Percentile | $91,000 | $7,583 | $44 |
| Average | $73,003 | $6,084 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 10th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
Highest paying pharmaceutical sales specialist jobs
The highest paying types of pharmaceutical sales specialists are outside sales, outside sales consultant, and senior sales specialist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | $51,504 | $4,292 | $24.76 | 199,588 |
| Sales Consultant | $60,135 | $5,011 | $28.91 | 227,636 |
| Business Sales Representative | $58,288 | $4,857 | $28.02 | 226,438 |
| Medical Representative | $36,309 | $3,026 | $17.46 | 176,481 |
| Inside Sales Representative | $44,413 | $3,701 | $21.35 | 244,168 |
| Outbound Sales Representative | $45,723 | $3,810 | $21.98 | 240,781 |
Top companies hiring pharmaceutical sales specialists now:
Which companies pay pharmaceutical sales specialists the most?
Pharmaceutical sales specialist salaries at AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average pharmaceutical sales specialist salary at companies like Alcon and Advanced Technology Services are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AstraZeneca | $130,904 | $62.93 |
| 2 | Johnson & Johnson | $96,873 | $46.57 |
| 3 | Alcon | $91,985 | $44.22 |
| 4 | Advanced Technology Services | $74,078 | $35.61 |
| 5 | Highland Capital Partners | $72,817 | $35.01 |
| 6 | Paratek Pharmaceuticals | $72,320 | $34.77 |
| 7 | RemX | $71,335 | $34.30 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Pharmaceutical sales specialist salary trends
The average pharmaceutical sales specialist salary has risen by $10,025 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average pharmaceutical sales specialist earned $62,978 annually, but today, they earn $73,003 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for pharmaceutical sales specialists over the last decade.
Compare pharmaceutical sales specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average pharmaceutical sales specialist salary over time
Compare pharmaceutical sales specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Pharmaceutical sales specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $73,000 | $35.10 | +6.5% |
| 2024 | $68,300 | $32.82 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | $67,100 | $32.27 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $66,400 | $31.93 | -0.2% |
| 2021 | $66,500 | $31.99 | +3.5% |
Recently added pharmaceutical sales specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcon Vision. Company | Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist | Ione, CA | 06/28/2025 | $102,400 |
| Astrazeneca PLC | Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist-R&I Primary Care South | Wilmington, NC | 06/25/2025 | $76,935 |
| Keysource Acquisition | Inside Pharmaceutical Sales Unlimited Commission +Bonuses+ Base | Niagara Falls, NY | 06/19/2025 | $50,000 |
| Syneos Health, Inc. | Vaccine Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist | Hartford, CT | 06/18/2025 | $98,000 |
| Astrazeneca | Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist-R&I Primary Care | Baltimore, MD | 06/13/2025 | $76,935 |
| Astrazeneca | Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist-Cvrm Primary Care-Western Iowa | Des Moines, IA | 06/11/2025 | $74,700 |
| Astrazeneca | Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist-Cvrm Primary Care-Sacramento NW | Sacramento, CA | 06/11/2025 | $74,700 |
| Astrazeneca PLC | Primary Care Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist-National Sales Network (NSN) | Wilmington, NC | 05/30/2025 | $77,000 |
| Astrazeneca | Pharmaceutical Sales Specialist-R&I Primary Care South | San Diego, CA | 05/24/2025 | $76,935 |
| Keysource Acquisition | Inside Pharmaceutical Sales Unlimited Commission +Bonuses+ Base | Niagara Falls, NY | 05/19/2025 | $50,000 |
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