| When I was a pharmaceutical drug sales | | | | how much sales quotas or budgets are exceeded, |
| representative, I remember that one of the | | | | the bonus component of a drug rep's overall |
| doctors I called on had asked me how much | | | | earnings can be very significant. This is how the |
| money drug representatives make. When I told | | | | big money in pharmaceutical sales is made. |
| him the different salary ranges, he was very | | | | High performers can earn bonuses that push their |
| surprised, especially with what the high | | | | overall earnings to six figures. On top of that, the |
| performers can make in this field. | | | | top pharmaceutical sales representatives can win |
| The fact is that overall incomes of pharmaceutical | | | | special vacation trips as part of performance |
| drug sales representatives can come from a few | | | | incentives. |
| different sources including base salary, sales | | | | Company Car and Other Perks |
| bonuses and other benefits. | | | | The use of the company car and other perks |
| Base Salary | | | | such as excellent health benefits will amount to |
| The main component of income for a drug | | | | the equivalent of several thousand dollars so |
| representative of course is the base salary. The | | | | these should also be taken into account. The cost |
| starting salary for recent university or college | | | | of a recent model car and all the expenses |
| graduates with no prior experience in sales could | | | | associated with it such as fuel plus repairs do add |
| be in the mid $30,000s to $40,000s range. Those | | | | up. All of these auto expenses are covered by |
| with a few years of related work experience | | | | the company. This is a very nice perk when |
| could negotiate to the higher end of this range. | | | | considering that in most other jobs, car expenses |
| Base salaries typically increase quite well with | | | | come out from one's own pocket. |
| years of service to a pharmaceutical company. | | | | So when evaluating job offers from |
| After several years, the base salary of a drug | | | | pharmaceutical companies, new sales reps who |
| sales representative could be in the $50,000s to | | | | have never been in the industry should not worry |
| $70,000s range. Promotions to specialist hospital | | | | too much about starting salaries. Income will go up |
| pharmaceutical sales positions will often result in an | | | | significantly if performance is there. It is much |
| even higher range. | | | | more important to get the sales experience first |
| Sales Bonuses for Good Performance | | | | and then in the future, there is always the option |
| Most pharmaceutical sales forces reward their | | | | to move to other pharmaceutical companies if the |
| drug reps with financial sales bonuses if certain | | | | overall earning potentials are greater elsewhere. |
| quotas are achieved or exceeded. Depending on | | | | |