If you could make as much money in a non-sales role, would you take it?

Just curious,


If you could make as much money as a sales role, but not doing sales, would you do it?


If yes, why?

If no, why not?


Alternatively, what roles could you see yourself doing that isn't sales. Serious answers, please.

If you could make as much money as a sales role, but not doing sales, would you do it?

Attached poll
*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.
💰 Compensation
🚀 Career Goals
🤷‍♂ Poll
8
Mikey
Politicker
1
Senior Regional Director
I love the thrill of sale! I also love the relationship aspect. With that said, if I could get paid the same for a role with more flexibility, i would totally take it!

I've always wanted a role in customer success, but they just don't pay well.
LordBusiness
Politicker
1
Chief Revenue Officer
No, I like being able to instantly provide my worth, without any impact from my leader/boss/manager on my "performance".  
Accidental_Sales_Guy
Politicker
1
Account Executive
I LOVE the what I sell, and geek out about being at the tip of the spear of innovation for my industry. However, success in my role comes from strong prospecting muscles and mapping pain to value, not from deeper product knowledge.

I've thought about going a product or sales engineer route so I can spend more of my days learning about cool technology- instead of polishing talk tracks to win commitments. 

Unfortunately, the pay just can't compete with the high end of sales when you factor in accelerators.
funcoupons
WR Officer
1
👑
Yep. The only reason I'm in sales is because it pays well. I don't hate the responsibilities, but they're not my passion either and this job comes with a lot of headaches.

If I could make the same amount in another role, I'd probably work as an internal recruiter, in human resources as a generalist, executive support, or perhaps as an account manager.
NorthernSalesGuru
Politicker
1
Manager, Outbound Sales
I’m one of those guys who oddly loves sales...
Salespreuner
Big Shot
0
Regional Sales Director
+1 ; with you! 
HarryCaray
Notable Contributor
1
HMFIC
No, I like eating what I kill
LordOfWar
Tycoon
1
Blow it up
Yes, but I would still be sales-focused, just selling the company rather than products. I love creating partnerships and finding new ways to tackle market opportunities, but that does not yield the returns that a nice shiney purchase order does.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
I really like your take on this topic. I've been thinking about what I'd do other than sales. 
LordOfWar
Tycoon
1
Blow it up
Thanks! M&A can be very lucrative and is a mix of buy/sell. It also exposes you to how other companies function, grow and die. That or sales/growth consulting specific to defence markets might be in my future.

I'd love to have my own business, but right now I have too many expenses to jump ship.
BillyHoyle
Tycoon
1
Senior Account Executive
I would love to make my OTE fishing.
Annonny
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
I feel like it would be a bit less stressful not being in sales lol
deviantzen
WR Lieutenant
0
Consultant
I have a feeling the poll results won't match tone of the comments
softwarebro
Politicker
0
Sales Director
no way. Sales is king in most organizations (I would argue that you aren't in a good org if it's not). I'd rather go deepsea fishing in the keys with prospects than be in a cubicle cooking the books as an accountant. 
SgtAE
WR Officer
0
AE
I ran my first startup at 24, and love it to bits. It really took me to hell and back but I loved every moment of it honestly. I got back into sales because I said I wanted to become a non-technical co-founder one day. So I work in sales to gain as much experience as I can before I get back onto the horse with another startup
Bandido
Politicker
0
Client Director
Absolutely!  I love sales, but the parts I truly enjoy only make up maybe 10% of day to day responsibilities.  

Show me someone who claims they truly like prospecting/cold out reach and Ill show you a liar.  Even if you have an SDR, eventually you will have to try to find your own meetings during slow times.
Biznasty
Opinionated
0
Lead Business Development Manager
I would die in a different job. 
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
0
VP of Sales
I love sales, I love being the tip of the spear.

I think I wish I could do something else, more than I actually could do something else.  Everyone wants a guarantee in life, and I would love one.  I've just learned there's no such thing as a guarantee, so if I'm going to hedge my bets, I decided to do it in a performance sport like sales where at least I can be in the driver's seat.  

If there was a career that still challenged and mentally stimulated me like sales, still came with big wins (and big money), but without the nail-biting and ups and downs, I'd be all over it.

Unfortunately that doesn't really exist.  I doubt I would survive in anything else without getting bored.
Corpslovechild
Politicker
0
Inbound Sales Manager
no, because I hate spreadsheets. 
MrAnderson
Executive
0
AE
Yes, from my observation we do sales because it's high risk - high reward. But if I could have the reward, without the risk I would of course take it.

Because I like dealing with people I would move to Customer Success or something in HR. But in the end, things are like they are, I see a path forward in sales that I don't see in other careers and I'm willing to take the punches in order to achieve what I want.
4

If Sales is a meritocracy and we all have the same expectation to produce, why is the so much talk about pay equity/inequality in sales? Shouldn't the meritocracy part be an equalizer?

Question
11
4

How much money do you make?

Question
15
$$$
109 people voted
3

How much money did you make it 2020?

Question
5
How much money did you make it 2020?
63 people voted