Modro

Senior Account Executive

Getting paid better as a BDR than AE

I've been an AE for the past 6 years, from SMB to mid market to enterprise, but last year I was laid off and took me 3 months of interviewing to secure a job but it was a BDR role which paid me as much as my most recent enterprise AE Role, with just less commission but that also comes with less responsibilities of having to close deals. I'm really enjoying my role, my team, the technology and the money but I'm afraid that one day I may have to start again if I was to go back to becoming an AE. what should I do?

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11 comments

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SaaSguy

Tycoon

Account Executive

Find your next move in a closing role while collecting some checks being a BDR.

While the BDR role may pay more and be less work than your last role - the ceiling is obviously much lower.
An Enterprise AE role at most companies will pay substantially more than any BDR role.
May also be difficult to explain going from an enterprise ae to a bdr to recruiters/interviewers, its a massive step backwards title wise.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

So to me it sounds like you were severely underpaid for your ENT AE role.

unclespacejam

Politicker

ur dad’s brother

Came here to say exactly the same. Seems an unlikely story unless the previous company you worked for was just fuckin you sideways.

Give us some stats to compare here? (ACV, base salary, commission %)

unclespacejam

Politicker

ur dad’s brother

As the kids say; the math ain’t mathin’ my friend

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

100%

I don't even know how it could be possible to be paid more as a BDR than an EAE.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

THANK. YOU.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I'm not sure what you mean about starting again. Isn't that kind of where you are right now? Back at the beginning, as needs must?
Are you not able to move up to AE at your current job? Surely you'd be shortlisted, due to past experience, and what sounds like success in your current role.
Or is it ambivalence due to the fact you prefer BDR, but know it's never going to be a long term role?

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

Completely agree, if you look at it from career standpoint there could be some disadvantages at a later stage

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Don’t apply for AE jobs. Problem solved.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

What’s it look like being an AE at that company

Ambassador and Member

BDR is hard as it involves scheduling calls with executives and it being an outbound motion on high volume the job will be very tiresome for those that are not willing to adapt to it. good base most times but commission is non comparable to that of any AE role.

You can continue doing it and amass great results after which you can apply for AE roles and will be able to command a better pay and most importantly can rely on your own outbound motion to create new opportunities on top of having any SDR and inbound support. Wish you the best.

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Modro

Getting paid better as a BDR than AE

11 comments

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