Considering a career in tech sales? Here's why:
No degree required, real earning potential, and more ways in than you'd think. Here's what makes it worth a look.
- $85,000+
- Avg. first-year comp
- 70%
- Roles offer remote work
- No
- Degree required
Here's what that looks like in practice
Pay
Competitive base salary plus uncapped commission. Top performers regularly out-earn people in other departments.
Equity
Many SaaS companies offer stock options, especially at early-stage startups. Get in early and your equity can grow alongside the company.
Benefits
Health coverage, PTOPaid Time Off, 401k matching, and perks that rival — and often beat — traditional corporate jobs.
Flexibility
Remote and hybrid roles are the norm, not the exception. Work from anywhere, on a schedule that fits your life.
Career growth
Performance is measurable, so promotions happen fast. It's common to move from SDRSales Development Representative to AEAccount Executive in 12–18 months.
Alternatives
Sales isn't just AEAccount Executive and SDRSales Development Representative. Customer Success, Solutions Engineering, Sales Ops, and Management all offer natural next steps depending on your strengths.
Explore the roles
Find where you fit on a sales team
Tech sales isn't one job — it's a career ladder with clear steps and a role for almost every strength.
Sales / Business Development Rep (SDRSales Development Representative/BDRBusiness Development Representative)
Prospect and book qualified meetings that fill the sales pipeline.
Avg. compensation
$60K–$90K OTEOn-Target Earnings
Estimate only — varies by location & experience.
Typical background needed
None — great entry pointAccount Executive (AEAccount Executive)
Own the full sales cycle from demo to close and carry a quota.
Avg. compensation
$150K–$350K+ OTEOn-Target Earnings
Estimate only — varies by location & experience.
Typical background needed
Promoted from SDRSales Development RepresentativeCustomer Success (CSMCustomer Success Manager)
Keep customers happy, drive renewals, and grow existing accounts.
Avg. compensation
$90K–$150K OTEOn-Target Earnings
Estimate only — varies by location & experience.
Typical background needed
Support experienceSolutions Engineer (SESolutions Engineer)
Pair with AEsAccount Executive to handle technical demos and answer deep questions.
Avg. compensation
$150K–$250K OTEOn-Target Earnings
Estimate only — varies by location & experience.
Typical background needed
Technical backgroundSales Operations
Own the CRMCustomer Relationship Management, forecasting, and tooling that keep the revenue engine running.
Avg. compensation
$90K–$160K base
Estimate only — varies by location & experience.
Typical background needed
Analytical backgroundSales Manager
Coach and lead a team of reps to hit collective revenue targets.
Avg. compensation
$200K–$350K+ OTEOn-Target Earnings
Estimate only — varies by location & experience.
Typical background needed
Promoted from AERanges reflect typical US on-target earnings (base + commission), OTE means "on-target earnings". Actual pay varies widely by location, company stage, industry, and experience — a rep in San Francisco or New York will often out-earn the same role in a smaller market.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Each certification covers the real day-to-day of the role: prospecting, cold outreach, discovery, objection handling, demos, and closing. Everything is drawn from playbooks used at high-growth SaaS companies.
The courses are self-paced. Most people finish a single certification in 4–6 hours and the full bundle over a weekend. You keep lifetime access, so you can revisit anytime.
No. The SDRSales Development Representative track is designed for complete beginners with no sales or tech background. If you can hold a conversation and stay organized, you can do this.
Yes. On completion you get a shareable certificate you can add to LinkedIn and your résumé. It signals to hiring managers that you understand the fundamentals of the role.