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Pharma Sales Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Pharma Sales experience required * Workday experience highly preferred A career at Cielo will give you the opportunity to work with the industry's smartest people and to take ownership of your ...

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Pharma Sales information

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$22.5K

$81.6K

$154.5K

How much do pharma sales jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for pharma sales in the United States is $81,617.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,000.00 and $96,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is pharma sales?

Pharma sales, short for pharmaceutical sales, refers to the profession of selling prescription drugs, medical devices, and related products to healthcare professionals such as doctors, pharmacists, and hospitals. Pharmaceutical sales representatives educate healthcare providers about the benefits, uses, and potential side effects of their company's products. Their goal is to increase awareness and usage of these products while maintaining compliance with industry regulations and ethical standards. This role often involves travel, relationship building, and staying updated on medical advancements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a pharma sales representative?

To thrive as a Pharma Sales Representative, you need a solid understanding of pharmaceutical products, sales techniques, and often a background in life sciences or related fields. Familiarity with CRM software, data analysis tools, and certifications like Certified Sales Professional (CSP) can be advantageous. Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and persuasive negotiation skills help you connect with healthcare professionals and drive sales. These skills are crucial for effectively promoting products, meeting sales targets, and maintaining strong client relationships in a competitive industry.

What are some common challenges faced by pharma sales representatives, and how can they be managed effectively?

Pharma Sales representatives often encounter challenges such as navigating strict regulatory requirements, building trust with healthcare professionals, and differentiating their products in a highly competitive market. Effective management includes staying updated on compliance standards, developing strong product knowledge, and focusing on relationship-building skills. Collaborating closely with medical and marketing teams can also help address customer concerns and tailor presentations to meet specific needs. Continuous learning and adaptability are key to overcoming these obstacles and achieving sales targets.

What is the difference between Pharma Sales vs Pharmaceutical Sales Representative?

AspectPharma SalesPharmaceutical Sales Representative
CredentialsDegree in life sciences, marketing, or related fields; often requires sales certificationsSimilar credentials; often requires a degree and sales training
Work EnvironmentField sales, hospitals, clinics, pharmaciesField sales, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies
Employer & Industry UsagePharmaceutical companies, biotech firmsPharmaceutical companies, medical device firms
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Pharma Sales and Pharmaceutical Sales Representative roles are closely related, often overlapping in work environment and employer type. Both require similar credentials and focus on promoting pharmaceutical products to healthcare providers. The main difference lies in terminology, with Pharma Sales being a broader term that may include various healthcare products, while Pharmaceutical Sales Representative specifically refers to those selling pharmaceutical drugs. Understanding these distinctions helps job seekers target the right roles in the healthcare industry.

How do I become a pharmaceutical sales representative?

To become a pharmaceutical sales representative, typically a bachelor's degree in life sciences, business, or related fields is required. Relevant skills include strong communication, sales ability, and knowledge of medical products; some employers prefer candidates with prior sales experience or industry certifications. Building relationships with healthcare professionals and understanding regulatory guidelines are also important for success in this role.

How hard is it to get a job in pharma sales?

Getting a job in pharma sales can be competitive, often requiring a bachelor's degree in life sciences, marketing, or related fields, along with strong communication skills and industry knowledge. Prior experience in sales or healthcare can improve chances, and certifications like a pharmaceutical sales training program may be beneficial. Success depends on individual qualifications, networking, and understanding of the pharmaceutical industry.

Is pharma sales a good career?

Pharma sales is a viable career that involves promoting pharmaceutical products to healthcare professionals. It typically requires strong communication skills, product knowledge, and often a bachelor's degree; success can lead to advancement into management or specialized roles. The job offers opportunities for performance-based incentives and a dynamic work environment, but it also demands frequent travel and meeting sales targets.
More about Pharma Sales jobs

What cities are hiring for Pharma Sales jobs?

Cities with the most Pharma Sales job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Pharma Sales jobs?

The most popular types of Pharma Sales jobs are:

What states have the most Pharma Sales jobs?

States with the most job openings for Pharma Sales jobs include:

Infographic showing various Pharma Sales job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 77% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 22% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,617 per year, or $39.2 per hour.

Managing Director, Pharma Sales & Business Development

Franklin, TN • Remote


Cigna
Health Care and Social Assistance • 10K+ employees

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 241 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

41st of 896 rated healthcare providers

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by students


Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 19 days ago


Job description

The Managing Director, Pharma Sales & Business Development is a senior, highly influential leadership role responsible for driving growth, value creation, and strategic partnerships across the Evernorth Specialty Pharma portfolio. This role leads sales, business development, and manufacturer contracting strategy, with a primary focus on expanding access to therapies, optimizing limited distribution networks, and delivering sustained profitable growth for Evernorth Specialty businesses.

This position serves as a key external-facing leader with pharmaceutical manufacturers and an internal strategic partner across Product, Operations, Specialty Procurement, and Commercial teams. The Managing Director is accountable for defining and executing sales and business development strategies that advance Evernorth Specialty's short- and long-term objectives

Key Responsibilities

Strategy, Sales & Business Development

  • Lead the development and execution of Evernorth Specialty Pharma sales and business development strategy, aligned to enterprise growth and value-creation goals.
  • Own manufacturer-facing growth initiatives, including new business opportunities, therapy launches, limited distribution network (LDN) strategies, and data solution sales to Pharma.
  • Partner to design and execute strategies that expand access to new and emerging therapies.
  • Identify, evaluate, and pursue new Pharma partnerships that drive revenue growth and strengthen Evernorth Specialty's competitive position.
  • Serve as a senior thought partner in enterprise strategic planning, providing insight that materially influences short- and long-term business direction.

Contracting & Manufacturer Relationships

  • Lead pharmaceutical manufacturer contracting strategy, including negotiation of complex agreements supporting sales growth, access, and profitability.
  • Oversee contract development, renewal strategy, and renegotiations as needed to support evolving business priorities.
  • Act as the primary escalation point for Pharma manufacturers on strategic, contractual, and growth-related matters.
  • Represent Evernorth Specialty externally as a recognized industry leader and trusted partner within the specialty pharmacy, distribution, wholesale and Pharma community.

Enterprise Leadership & Collaboration

  • Support all Evernorth Specialty businesses, including but not limited to Accredo, CuraScript Specialty Distribution, Evernorth Wholesale, Freedom Fertility, and Express Scripts Specialty Distribution Services.
  • Collaborate closely with Specialty Product, Specialty Operations, Finance, Legal, and Procurement to ensure sales strategies are operationally executable and financially sound.
  • Anticipate market, regulatory, and industry trends impacting Pharma relationships and recommend strategic, process, or product improvements.
  • Solve complex, ambiguous problems with enterprise-wide impact, exercising strong judgment and decision-making authority.

People & Financial Leadership

  • Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing sales, business development and contracting teams with a strong focus on execution and outcomes.
  • Foster a culture of agility, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Manage the budget for Business Development and Contracting functions, ensuring disciplined investment aligned to growth priorities.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required; MBA or PharmD strongly preferred.
  • 10+ years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 8+ years with a Master's degree.

Core Competencies

  • Deep knowledge of Specialty Pharmacy, Distribution, Pharma, and PBM industries.
  • Demonstrated success leading sales, business development, and manufacturer contracting at a senior level.
  • Proven ability to negotiate complex, high-value contracts with integrity and strong financial acumen.
  • Recognized industry expert with the credibility to engage Pharma executives with 20+ years of experience.
  • Strong strategic thinking paired with a results-driven, bottom-line orientation.
  • Exceptional communication, presentation, and executive presence.
  • Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
  • Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and developing senior-level talent.
  • Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and make independent, high-impact decisions.

Additional Requirements

  • Strong project management and organizational skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Ability to assess financial, product, and program metrics to inform decision-making.
  • Willingness to travel approximately 50%.

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary of 222,700 - 371,100 USD / yearly, depending on relevant factors, including experience and geographic location.

This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus and long term incentive plan.

At The Cigna Group, you'll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, with a focus on supporting your whole health. Starting on day one of your employment, you'll be offered several health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs. We also offer 401(k), company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year and paid holidays. For more details on our employee benefits programs, click here.

About Evernorth Health Services

Evernorth Health Services, a division of The Cigna Group, creates pharmacy, care and benefit solutions to improve health and increase vitality. We relentlessly innovate to make the prediction, prevention and treatment of illness and disease more accessible to millions of people. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process, please email seeyourself@thecignagroup.com for assistance. Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes.

Cigna has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.


Cigna logo

About Cigna

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Cigna Corporation exists to improve lives. We are a global health service company dedicated to improving the health, well-being and peace of mind of those we serve. Together, with colleagues around the world, we aspire to transform health services, making them more affordable and accessible to millions. Through our unmatched expertise, bold action, fresh ideas and an unwavering commitment to patient-centered care, we are a force of health services innovation. When you work with us, or one of our subsidiaries, you'll enjoy meaningful career experiences that enrich people's lives.

Industry

Health care and social assistance

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Bloomfield, CT, US

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Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

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