Published: February 26, 2025
Written by: Stephan Koning - LinkedIn
This isn't your typical salary guide filled with inflated numbers and best-case scenarios. After analyzing real compensation data and speaking with hundreds of SDRs, here's what you actually need to know about entry-level tech sales salaries.
While job posts love to advertise "competitive compensation," the real base salary range is $45,000 to $65,000. Bravado's data confirms this range, with OTE (on-target earnings) between $70K and $90K (Bravado).
Geographic location significantly impacts pay. Outside the tech hubs (Bay Area and NYC), base salaries range from $45,000 to $55,000, with commissions between $10,000 and $20,000, resulting in a total OTE of $55,000 to $75,000 (Aspireship). For instance, in Chicago, SDRs average $56,676 yearly (ZipRecruiter).
Company size also influences compensation. Startups often offer lower base salaries but higher risk and potential equity. Enterprise companies tend to provide higher base salaries and structured bonuses. Mid-market companies typically offer salaries in the $50,000 to $80,000 range (Break Into Tech Sales).
The median starting salary for entry-level SDRs is $41,557, with some positions paying as low as $34,000 and others up to $71,475 (Quora).
Remote positions typically offer base salaries ranging from $55,000 to $60,000 (Reddit). However, it's important to note that remote roles often come with stricter performance metrics and less flexibility than advertised.