Tech sales is an industry known for its high earning potential and fast paced environment, but can you really make $300k a year slinging SaaS? This is a question many aspiring sales professionals ask as they look for career opportunities that offer not only financial rewards but also career growth. Before you sign up for any tech sales training hoping to enter this industry, let’s make sure you have a solid understanding of your earning potential in tech sales. In this article, we’ll explore how much you can make in software sales, whether hitting that $300k milestone is realistic, and which roles offer the most lucrative tech sales salary.
What is the most you can make in tech sales?
If you were to Google How much do you make in tech sales Reddit users would say that tech sales salaries can vary widely depending on the role, company, and individual experience level. More senior positions, such as enterprise account executives or sales directors, tend to offer the highest earning potential. Base salaries for these roles typically range from $100k to $150k, but the real money comes from commissions and bonuses.
It’s common to find experienced professionals in tech sales earning over $200k annually, especially those in large SaaS companies or handling enterprise-level accounts. For top performers selling high-ticket products and managing big accounts, surpassing the $300k mark is achievable. This often comes down to closing large deals, securing multi-year contracts, and consistently meeting or exceeding high sales quotas.
Is it possible to make 300K a year?
If you can close those large deals, secure multi-year contracts and consistently hit your mark, then yes, it is absolutely possible to make $300k a year in sales. Sales jobs that pay over 300k are more common in industries like tech as opposed to something like packaging sales. This is because the industry standard commission plan for SaaS sales is a 50/50 split, which is much more generous than other industries.This is due to the multi-year and recurring nature of SaaS contracts. Using a standard SaaS commission plan, if you are able to find a tech sales job with a base salary of at least $150,000 and hit your goals, then you will have earned $300k in a year.
Which software sales roles pay the most?
The highest-paying software sales roles are those that focus on selling to enterprise level accounts. These contracts are significantly larger than those in SMB (Small to Medium Business) sales, resulting in much bigger commissions for the salespeople. Enterprise sales roles typically involve negotiating multi-million-dollar deals, which means the potential for high commission payouts is substantial.
There are two key types of enterprise sales roles: Account Executives (AEs) and Sales Engineers. AEs generally earn more overall because their compensation is more commission-heavy. The bigger the deal they close, the larger their paycheck. Sales Engineers, on the other hand, often make a higher base salary but receive smaller commissions compared to AEs. This is because Sales Engineers play a more technical role, supporting the AE by providing the in-depth product knowledge needed to close complex deals.
Senior sales management roles, such as sales directors and VPs of sales, are also high paying sales jobs. On top of a cushy base salary, they are often rewarded with bonuses for leading teams that accomplish their goal.
What sales job has the highest salary?
Rather than focusing on a specific sales job title, it's important to understand high salaries in sales are more closely tied to performance and the nature of the product being sold. While no single job title guarantees the highest salary, there are a few key factors that can significantly boost your earning potential.
Most importantly, look for roles with lucrative commission plans rewarding high performance. If the commission structure is not favorable, then it doesn’t really matter how much you sell. Secondly, selling a product people genuinely need or want can make closing deals easier, leading to more consistent earnings. Finally, selling high-value products, where each contract or sale is worth a substantial amount, can result in bigger commissions and higher overall compensation.
These factors are most commonly found in industries like SaaS, finance, and medical sales, where products often carry higher price tags and consistent demand. Successful salespeople in these fields can earn impressive salaries, driven by the value of the deals they close.
Conclusion
Earning $300k in tech sales is achievable with the right skills and opportunities. If you're ready to pursue a high-earning tech sales career, check out the N.E.S.T. Academy to get started.
