When it comes to tech sales jobs, there’s a wide range of earning potential based on your role, experience, and the type of product or service you’re selling. For those entering the field, understanding which positions offer the highest compensation can guide career decisions. Whether you are applying for jobs, undergoing Tech Sales Training, or researching tech sales certifications, it’s important to know what kind of roles can lead to significant financial rewards.
In this article, we’ll explore the highest paying tech sales jobs and the factors that influence salaries. We will also look specifically at how to land a high paying entry level sales role.
If you were to research highest paying tech jobs Reddit users would likely point to roles in enterprise software sales, cloud solutions, and cybersecurity sales as being the most lucrative. These positions often involve complex solutions, large deal sizes, and multi-year contracts that can lead to substantial commissions.
Top-paying roles typically involve selling to large corporations where the contract value is in the millions. When dealing with contracts in the millions, even a small percentage commission will result in a big payout.
If roles selling to large companies are the highest paying, then what roles sell to these large companies? The answer is typically Senior Enterprise Account Executives. These professionals focus on closing high-value deals with enterprise-level clients, which often involve selling complex solutions like customer relationship management software, infrastructure services, or cybersecurity technologies.
Enterprise Account Executives are responsible for not just closing deals but developing strategic relationships with clients. They work closely with decision-makers to understand their business needs and align their offerings to solve those challenges. Due to the complexity and scale of these deals, which can span months or even years, these roles are highly strategic and require both expertise and patience.
In terms of compensation, Senior Enterprise Account Executives earn substantial base salaries, often exceeding six figures. On top of the base salary, it’s the significant commissions from closing million dollar deals that push their total annual earnings well into the multiple six-figure range.
When comparing tech sales roles, SaaS (Software as a Service) and technology hardware sales offer distinct earning potentials. SaaS sales tend to generate higher overall compensation due to the recurring revenue model, larger deal sizes, and longer sales cycles. Sales professionals in SaaS often benefit from substantial commissions, as enterprise-level software solutions are in high demand.
Technology hardware sales, while still lucrative, typically involve one-time purchases with smaller margins. Although these roles can offer solid base salaries, the commission opportunities are often more limited compared to the recurring nature of SaaS deals.
While the big bucks in tech sales are found in full-cycle, closing roles, it’s unrealistic to expect to land one of those positions without prior experience. For newcomers, the highest-paying entry-level tech sales jobs are typically Sales Development Representatives (SDRs), which are often considered among the best entry-level tech sales jobs.
The most lucrative SDR roles tend to be at early-stage, well-funded companies. These startups need to hit aggressive growth benchmarks and, because they are backed by investors, they have the budget to offer higher salaries, making these some of the highest paying sales jobs without a degree. Startups are also less likely to require a formal degree, as they often don’t have large HR departments with strict hiring policies. Instead, they prioritize skills, adaptability, and drive over traditional qualifications.
On the other hand, larger, established tech companies typically have more rigid hiring processes, often with a college degree as a base requirement. These companies also tend to have strict compensation plans for entry-level roles, leaving less room for salary flexibility.
If you’re one of the first or second SDRs on a growing team, you’ll likely take on a wide range of responsibilities beyond just prospecting, which justifies a higher salary. For those with no prior experience, SDR roles are also among the best sales jobs with no experience, offering solid pay and opportunities for rapid advancement as the company scales.
Breaking into tech sales is highly desirable, with significant earning potential even at the entry level. Whether you're aiming to land one of the highest paying tech sales jobs or working your way up from an SDR position, the opportunities in this field are vast. In SaaS sales, the potential for financial success is strong, especially if you’re prepared with the right training and mindset.
If you're looking to secure a high-paying entry level sales role and accelerate your career, check out the N.E.S.T. Academy. Our program is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in tech sales, even with no prior experience.