Account Executive Salary Overview
Account Executives at SaaS companies are responsible for closing new business deals, managing the full sales cycle from discovery to contract signing. They work closely with Sales Development Representatives and Business Development Representatives who build pipeline, and typically report to a Sales Manager or Director of Sales.
Account Executive compensation is heavily variable, with on-target earnings (OTE) significantly exceeding base salary. Strong performers can progress into Senior Account Executive or Sales Manager roles. AEs also coordinate closely with Account Managers during the post-sale handoff. View all SaaS salary benchmarks.
Detailed Account Executive Compensation Breakdown
Percentile Band | Average Base Salary | # of salaries |
|---|---|---|
| Top 25% | $122,330 | 211 salaries |
| Middle 50% | $73,130 | 421 salaries |
| Bottom 25% | $46,730 | 204 salaries |
What Drives Higher Account Executive Pay?
Quota attainment track record and consistency
Deal size — enterprise AEs earn significantly more than SMB AEs
Company stage and ARR (growth-stage pays a premium)
Vertical expertise in high-value industries (fintech, healthtech)
Account Executive Compensation Structure
Base salary is 45–55% of OTE (on-target earnings)
Variable pay tied to individual quota attainment
Accelerators for over-quota performance (1.5–3x rate)
Equity grants common at startups (0.02–0.15%)
