GottaSellEmAll

Sales Manager

Can I make >$500k / year repeatably in a sales role (non management)

Like so many other sales professionals I want to be rich. I would feel sufficiently rich, income-wise, if I was able to break the $500k/year mark (let's be honest, nothing will ever be enough, but half a million / year would be awesome)

Is this possible as an individual contributor though? I really don't have an interest in a director/manager path, maybe VP of sales if an opportunity presented itself and I know $500k / year is well within reach at a VP level. But are there any individual contributors that have OTEs remotely close to $500k? What would it take to get there?

Can an individual contributor realistically get to an OTE of $500k+/year?

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💰 Compensation

🚀 Career Goals

📳 SaaS

35 comments

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UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

Its possible but you have to be a fucking badass and you need to work in the right industry. That shit doesn't grow on trees. You're also going to have to carry an enormous quota so be ready fo super long deal cycles, that are complex and challenging. Its hard to consistently clear 500k

GottaSellEmAll

Big Shot

Sales Manager

What industries do you think would be the "right" industries for these kind of earnings. And totally understand the large deal sizes and hefty quota, love both of those.

BmajoR

Arsonist

Account Executive

Enterprise Cyber Security is where the major bucks are

CoorsKing

WR Officer

Retired King of the Coors Knights

I know multiple people with $400k+ OTE in SaaS. It’s def the place to be

GottaSellEmAll

Big Shot

Sales Manager

I have heard this before! What kind of background does someone need to break into cyber security sales? I'm in the SaaS space now but not with cyber security software

GottaSellEmAll

Big Shot

Sales Manager

What kinds of software do they sell/ what sector are they in?

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

SaaS Eater

Before thinking of specific vertical I would make sure you have a significant amount of larger enterprise/strategic sales experience. Cyber security would have been the first one I said as well but any enterprise software platform can lead to the W2 youre looking for.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

Blow it up

I gotta get my ass into SaaS.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

It's possible, but those people are like the top .01% of salespeople and have the top .01% talent and drive to be there. Now go hit the phones.

CoorsKing

WR Officer

Retired King of the Coors Knights

And then hit the showers. You MUST

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

That's a given. *slaps everybody's ass*

CoorsKing

WR Officer

Retired King of the Coors Knights

Yes, I would say you would need to be in an Ent/Strat role to be able to do it repeatedly though.

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

There are so many wild variables to reach that level.

You're looking too far ahead imo, already thinking a VP position would be a option without ever showing interest in management or the levels above.

Where are you now, what's your OTE, what's the industry standard, is there attainable growth?

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Security. Real estate. Healthcare/surgical.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

Blow it up

It is doable, but very tough depending on the industry and like anything, it will get harder each year as big deals become harder to find while some companies try to weasel comp away with restructured plans.

TBH as nice as it would be, I'd rather earn less but more consistently by spreading deals out. You get a lower tax burden and more runway for earnings forecasting. It's not up to me, but that seems to be how things are playing out where I'm at.

Isliceonpurpose

Valued Contributor

Senior Sales

You can get there. I am 6yrs into my sales career, 4 years in Enterprise SaaS and I’m on 220k base 460k OTE. BUT as people have said my quota is 1.6m so you have to grip and rip that cellular device and drink red bull with your cereal

Isliceonpurpose

Valued Contributor

Senior Sales

Oh you also have to be prepared to constantly feel like your not doing enough…. Lol

SalesGuy1

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Is that a 1.6 quarterly number or 1.6 annual?

saaster

Fire Starter

Account Executive

Same question here - that seems like a really small annual quota given the comp..

Isliceonpurpose

Valued Contributor

Senior Sales

Hey All, this is AUD and it’s annually

SalesGuy1

Good Citizen

Account Executive

Ah man, makes my 120k OTE (USD) feel pretty weak against my 1.2m annual quota

saaster

Fire Starter

Account Executive

Yeah I’m 160k ote on 1m even

dwightyouignorantsale

Politicker

Account Executive

A handful of my colleagues have hit high 6 figures (1-2 even hit 7 figures) to the point that my company rolled out a $500K/deal commission cap limit, so it's definitely possible. You just need to find the right industry and have the experience to work through those really large, complex deals.

LordOfWar

Tycoon

Blow it up

lmao imagine being so bad at sales management you end up capping your biggest closers. Great way to get your best people to just fuckoff for half the year and then just drive them to the competition.

dwightyouignorantsale

Politicker

Account Executive

There were a few *very* pissed off people when that was announced

AssistantToTheRegional

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

I know plenty of people who have done it but it's not consistent it's lumpier. I'm in that group.

500 one year 250 another, 300 another.

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

As long as you’re in the right industry it’s very attainable. I work in the data center hardware/software space doing complete buildouts for enterprise customers. An okay rep who’s just hitting quota will make over 300k a year, top performers can and do definitely clear 500k

MokeMateo

Executive

Enterprise Account Executive

I have a buddy who does roofing sales — average rep at his company pulls in $500k. He’s been making $1m + for several years now.
But it’s a full commission job, and the ramp up time from “apprentice” (actual job title) to field rep is 2ish years and you’re making like $60k.

bandabanda

Tycoon

Senior AE Mid Market

Umm, this doesn’t sound half bad.

HarryCaray

Notable Contributor

HMFIC

I'm an tech sales rep and I made $400K+ (pre tax) for 2021. I know it's an anomaly though. I had a lot of things fall in line perfectly and had a great year. Not expecting that this year haha

GottaSellEmAll

Big Shot

Sales Manager

Right now I’m at a $200k OTE and hitting promotions at every opportunity/milestone. I have been in SaaS sales for almost 3 years, and have some other sales experience before that. I definitely don’t feel I’m at the peak of my current spot at my current company but I look at others I know at other companies that are further into their careers and I don’t think anyone I know has eclipsed a $300k OTE in an individual contributor role which led to the question.

justatopproducer

Politicker

VP OF SALES -US

Yes, many industries with annual contracts involved you can negotiate a renewal commission each year they stay. I’ve seen some small companies offer 25% commission each year as long as they stay a client.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

You can, but sooner or later someone higher than you is gonna get envious and rework the comp plan to make it impossible. See it happens many times.

10XQLA

Politicker

Medical Sales Assassin

Better be in the right vehicle like CEO's son.....

10XQLA

Politicker

Medical Sales Assassin

Cyber security and Healthcare

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GottaSellEmAll

Can I make >$500k / year repeatably in a sales role (non management)

Can an individual contributor realistically get to an OTE of $500k+/year?

35 comments

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