How Much Do Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives Earn?

How much do pharmaceutical sales representatives earn?

Pharmaceutical sales representatives serve as public relations agents for drug manufacturers' products. Their primary responsibility is to provide information about their employers' products to healthcare professionals and earn substantial sales commissions. Additionally, some representatives cover extensive distances as part of their job.

Average annual income

As of January 2011, pharmaceutical sales representatives earned an average annual income ranging from $75,000 to $105,000, according to PayScale. This income is typically composed of a base salary, commissions, and bonuses, which can total up to $24,000, with profit-sharing plans adding an additional $6,500 annually.

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Popular companies

Since 2011, pharmaceutical representatives at Pfizer reported earning an annual income of $101,000. Representatives at both Merck & Company and Johnson & Johnson reported earning $90,000 annually, while Sanofi-aventis, Incorporated representatives earned $81,000 per year.

Salary by industry

Salaries can vary by the specific pharmaceutical industry. In 2011, representatives working in biotechnology reported earning as much as $104,000. Those focused on vaccines reported salaries of up to $85,000, while representatives selling medical devices reported their highest salary as $66,000.

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Education and job search

Employers typically seek candidates with a four-year college degree, preferably in a science-related field. Additionally, representatives usually undergo rigorous training to become knowledgeable about their company's products. Job opportunities for pharmaceutical sales representatives are expected to decrease by approximately 5 percent through 2018.