Pharmaceutical Sales Careers,
Opportunities Abound for
Pharmaceutical Sales Rep Careers!

Pharmaceutical Sales Careers Offer Diverse and Lucrative Opportunities! We have the most complete information you'll find regarding pharmaceutical career advancement possibilities!

Many a happy pharmaceutical sales rep has spent an entire career in pharmaceutical sales, advancing through various positions of increased responsibility and benefits. There are others who are quite content to stay at the same “level” their entire pharmaceutical sales careers.

Fortunately, because the compensation is so attractive at any level… ANY option is a good one!

Unlike many other industries, the pharmaceutical sales industry is truly a place where you get to control your future. If your goal is to become a manager, you can make it happen. However, if you are perfectly content in your sales rep role, you can still make an incredible salary and compensation package, regardless!

Below is the most common career progression, with explanations, for the majority of sales reps entering pharmaceutical sales careers.

Pharmaceutical Sales Careers:
Detailed Job Descriptions

Primary Care Pharmaceutical Sales Rep:
Generally promotes a variety of products to general practitioners and family practitioners within an office setting. Also known as Pharmaceutical Sales Representative, Territory Sales Representative, and Territory Manager and usually considered entry-level positions. Promotion to a senior pharmaceutical sales rep (depending upon individual company requirements) can occur after 2-3 years of successful experience and usually requires sales numbers in the top 25% for all years. Find out exactly what goes on in pharmaceutical sales careers - discover what a pharmaceutical sales rep does on a daily basis!

Specialty Pharmaceutical Sales Rep:
Generally promotes products within the same therapeutic area (ex. Cardiovascular) to specialists (ex. Cardiologists and Vascular Surgeons) within an office setting, but may have limited hospital duties, as well. Sampling is usually required, depending upon the product itself. These reps are usually exceptional and experienced sales reps who have experience in the specific therapeutic area. With this promotion, you will expect to receive a 5-10% raise in base salary (industry standard).

Hospital Pharmaceutical Sales Rep:
Generally promotes 1-4 similar products to specialists (ex. ER Doctors, Cardiologists, Vascular Surgeons) within the hospital setting. Usually no sampling is required due to the nature of the products. This is a promoted position that normally requires at least 5-7 years of exceptional pharmaceutical sales experience and substantial raise in base pay and bonus potential. May also be known as “medical sales rep”. Examples of Various Specialties within the Hospital Sales Rep division include:

Pharmaceutical Field Sales Trainer:
A position which requires exceptional selling skills, product knowledge, and numerous years of top sales performance. Additional evidence of coaching and teaching skills with peers is also required. Usually the scope of responsibility lies within the district or several districts combined (several areas within the same state).

Pharmaceutical Sales District Manager:
Requires years of exceptional selling experience, along with management skills. Usually a “management path” is required, with courses to take and positions you must occupy before you are chosen as a DM. A District Manager may have responsibility for anywhere from 1-5 different districts.

Pharmaceutical Regional Sales Trainer:
This is a promoted position from Field Sales Trainer, with additional responsibilities for the entire region (usually a large geography). Also, the Regional Field Sales Trainer may act as a substitute DM when the District Manager is absent.

Pharmaceutical National Sales Trainer:
This is the next promotion from Regional Sales Trainer and is usually located at the home office. Companies usually have from 1-4 National Sales Trainers, depending on the size of the company. This is considered a management position, and encompasses the writing of training materials and manuals, as well as training new reps.

Pharmaceutical Medical Science Liaison:
May require a masters degree, but usually a doctorate. These are pharmaceutical product or disease-state experts who meet with physicians to answer technical questions about products and disease-states. The doctorate is usually required because it lends credibility and is more effective in the medical community.

Pharmaceutical National Account Manager:
Require extensive contract experience, plus vast knowledge of the managed care system and the pharmaceutical industry, along with extraordinary negotiating skills.

Pharmaceutical Regional Sales Manager:
Promoted from District Manager, this position is responsible for an entire region, which may be anywhere from 1-3 different states. There are very few of these positions available in any company. Requirements include consistent top rankings as a DM.

Pharmaceutical National Sales Director:
This is the final promotion for Regional Sales Managers, and there is usually only 1 per company. Basically, this position requires you to be a master in all subjects…sales, management, and contract negotiation.

Pharmaceutical Sales Careers
Learn the Positives and Negatives of a
Pharmaceutical Sales Career

Hey, want to see our unofficial survey results of pharmaceutical reps in pharmaceutical sales careers? Find out "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" aspects of pharmaceutical sales careers. It may not be for everyone. Get brutally honest reports! We report; you decide!

How to Get Into
Pharmaceutical Sales Careers?
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