nd
2 Annual
Pharma respondents at a glance
Total Number:
334
Avg. Age:
41
Avg. Experience:
12 years
Avg. Base Salary:
$91,746
Avg. Total Comp:
$120,606
Avg. Salary Increase: 4%
Avg. Time Traveling:
25%
Pharmaceutical Sales
Salary Report
2012
MedReps.com conducted its 2nd Annual Medical Sales Salary Survey in
April of 2012. In an effort to compile as much data as possible, we sent
our 2012 Survey to Premium Members, Basic Members, and former
Members too. Only responses from those currently working in
healthcare sales were considered – bringing the number of eligible
responses to 1,457. This report focuses only on those respondents
working in pharmaceutical sales.
Pharmaceutical sales professionals earn an average
total compensation of $120, 606.
$180,000
$0
Commission/Bonus
Base
$48,000
$33,000
$73,000
$77,000
$67,000
$86,000
$37,000
$40,000
$81,000
$73,000
$70,000
$20,000
$106,000
$40,000
$80,000
$60,000
$92,000
$80,000
$76,000
$57,000
$73,000
$100,000
$29,000
$120,000
$75,000
$140,000
$45,000
$160,000
At $120,606, the
average total income
reported by our survey
respondents working in
pharma was 22% less
than the total income
reported by
professionals in the
highest paying field,
medical device. While
the average base salary
of those working in
pharma was higher than
most others, the
commissions and
bonuses earned are
considerably less.
The 2012 average indicates a
4% increase over the average
total compensation reported
by pharma sales professionals
in 2011 ($115,737). This lines
up with the 73% of
respondents reporting that
they had received an increase
in the past 12 months– the
average increase reported
was 4%.
2011 vs 2012
$29,000
Base Salary
Pharma 2011
$89,000
$0
$50,000
$27,000
Commissions/
Bonus
$100,000 $150,000
The jump to management in
pharmaceutical sales has a
huge impact on income. Base
salaries for those working in
pharma sales management
are a reported 38% higher
than those in a pure sales role;
commission and bonuses for
those in management are a
reported 45% more.
Sales vs Management
Pharma Sales
$87,000
Commissions/
Bonus
Pharma Sales
Management
$140,000
$0
$88,000
Men working in
pharmaceutical sales earn, on
average, 8% more than
women. The difference may
in part be explained by the
fact that 72% of the higher
paying pharma sales
management positions are
held by men.
$26,000
Base Salary
$90,000
$60,000
$30,000
$0
20-30
$112,000
$120,000
$109,000
$150,000
$32,000
$180,000
$96,000
Pharma base salaries steadily
increase with age, but
commissions and bonuses did
not vary all that much. The
most significant jump in total
compensation appears
between the 20-30 and 31-40
age groups, but it continues to
climb as respondents get
older. (Note: Income for 60+
based on very limited data.)
$100,000 $150,000
$28,000
$50,000
$86,000
$0
Commissions/
Bonus
$30,000
$22,000
$93,000
$63,000
Med Device Men
$49,000
$50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000
Men vs Women
Med Device Women
Base Salary
$27,000
$25,000
$92,000
$27,000
Pharma 2012
31-40
41-50
51-60
60+
Income
by Age
Commissions/
Bonus
Base Salary
$33,000
$150,000
$26,000
Pharma sales professionals
working for small companies
(<50 FTE) earn, on average,
21% more than those working
for large companies (1,000+
FTE). Smaller companies may
feel they have to offer a
higher base if they want to
recruit and retain the strong
sales reps they need to build
market share.
$100,000
$87,000
$93,000
$50,000
Medium
Large
Small
$28,000
$88,000
$33,000
$105,000
$31,000
$93,000
$27,000
$23,000
$87,000
$50,000
$91,000
$100,000
0%
10%
25%
50%
75%
Commissions/
Bonus
Base Salary
$0
Three-fourths of
pharmaceutical sales
professionals have access to
an expense account and 83%
drive a company car. Only 9%
of pharma respondents said
they did not have access to
any of these perks.
Income by
Company Size
Commissions/Bonus
Base Salary
$0
Income by Travel
$150,000
$29,000
6-10 yr 11-20 yr 20+ yr
$33,000
2-5 yr
$31,000
<2 yr
Commissions/
Bonus
Base Salary
$116,000
$0
Income by
Experience
$116,000
$30,000
$101,000
$60,000
$80,000
$90,000
$66,000 $25,000
$120,000
$62,000 $19,000
$150,000
$27,000
$180,000
Experience is a key factor
affecting pharmaceutical sales
incomes. With a total
compensation of $148,670,
those with 20+ years of
experience clearly earn the
most. Base salaries increase
significantly as years of
experience go up, but
commissions and bonuses
remain relatively steady.
Stock
Purchase
Profit
Sharing
Expense
Account
Car
Allowance
Company
Car
The results of the survey
suggest that travel has very
little impact on earnings.
Regardless of the amount, the
base salaries and commissions
stayed relatively steady, with
the exception of those
traveling 50% of the time. This
may be due in part to the fact
that respondents with higher
paying management jobs
largely fell into this group.
Pharma Sales Perks
30%
20%
75%
14%
83%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%