Account Executive Salary - Average Salary - AE

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The missions of a Account Executive are specific and are very different from other salespeople such as the Account Manager. His great responsibilities justify his remuneration, which becomes very substantial over time: an AE can receive a salary ranging from 50 K€ per year At more than €150K for the most experienced profiles.

Many Akimbers become AE after their Bootcamp at Akimbo.

‍What is the salary for an Account Executive?

Junior Account Executive Salary

It's a paradoxical job title but one that can be found again. A Junior Account Executive has less than 2 years of experience for sale SaaS.

It is often a misnomer to talk about AE Junior because it is a senior position. Indeed, graduating is generally not enough and these job offers are intended for individuals who already have a successful sales experience (SDR, BDR, Business Developer). The exception? Most of the time, valued careers in consulting or entrepreneurship.

The difference with a Business Developer or an Inside Sales is often imperceptible. Indeed, the role of an AE is to transform and close a lead that was brought by an SDR or a Business Developer.

The fixed annual gross salary for a Junior Account Executive is between €35K and 50 K€ per year with an additional variable portion varying from 30% unto 100% of remuneration.

Average Account Executive Salary

This is a profile with 2 to 5 years of experience for sale SaaS.

We are talking here about individuals who have integrated the essential know-how of the profession (e.g. generating a portfolio of opportunities). Their background and experience allow them a better understanding of the environment and better performance. Their efficiency at work results in higher pay. Their package is more important with a fixed and an increasingly important variable.

An Account Executive at this level will be awarded a fixed annual gross salary between €40K and 70 K€ per year In fixed with in addition 50% to 100% of variable.

Senior Account Executive Salary

A confirmed Account Executive with advanced experience in this field, this is a profile with more than 5 years of experience for sale SaaS.

Therefore, he takes care of prospects with higher stakes. His seniority and skills become a reference within the structure and often represent a figure of commitment and advice. He accompanies young salespeople and advises them.

The fixed annual gross salary for a Senior Account Executive ranges from 60 K€ to 100 K€ annually fixed + 50% unto 100% of variable.

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What is the role of an Account Executive?

He is an experienced commercial profile in charge of undertaking and maintaining good business relationships with customers. It converts the prospect into a customer, it is a transformation and closing professional. In 50% of cases, he will continue to do prospecting, but only with major accounts.

He has a high salary compared to the other salespeople in the company! Thus, he takes over from the more junior salespeople during the negotiation in front of customers. But he may also be required to act in project management, support, or even in the structuring and management of the team.

What are the missions of an Account Executive?

The Account Executive is mainly in negotiation and closing and will manage its portfolio of commercial opportunities. However, he can also work on the entire sales cycle (from prospecting to closing).

He works within companies and startups as a manager of the acquisition and management of new accounts. He accompanies prospects during the negotiation cycle until the closing of the contract. Likewise, he oversees and develops sales strategies. Indeed, by analyzing market data on trends and activities, it determines the best actions to take to best meet customer needs.

In only 30% to 50% of cases, he continues to do prospecting part of his time; prospecting is not his main role. Its main focus remains customer meetings and negotiation.

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What skills are required?

The Account Executive has a perfect command of CRMs for its application in commercial strategy. He knows his field and knows where to look. For the sake of results, he can follow the progress of leads throughout the sales process in order to adapt and personalize his approach.

• Prospecting effectively

The Account Executive is not necessarily the first contact potential customers have with the company. However, he must be able to know his market and his business in order to find the best prospects and to support them during the sales cycle.

• Know how to negotiate

Account Executive work requires good negotiation skills. He must succeed in showing the importance of his offer to the prospect. He must convert it by succeeding in showing the benefits of the product or service and by dealing with objections.

• Communicating, the power of active listening

The Account Executive is the specialist in customer appointments and closing. He must know how to communicate in writing and orally, while knowing how to adapt to the context and profiles he encounters. His ability to attract sympathy and to be attentive to the needs and expectations of his customers ensure good conversion rates.

• Mastering closing techniques

For the Account Executive, the conclusion of the sale represents the culmination of his efforts. In startup as in business, he must know the best sales techniques to satisfy both parties.

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What training courses are required to become an Account Executive?

As with many commercial jobs, being an Account Executive is a role that follows market developments. While certain commercial training and experience are valued, expectations may vary depending on the structure, sector and team.

• Generally, a bac+5 (Master) training type business school/engineer/BTS/DUT or a first successful experience in Sales can demonstrate a good Account Executive profile. For example, individuals who have held a position of project manager, SDR/BDR, or consultant will have a good basis in negotiation and strategy. Likewise, experience in marketing or events is also an interesting career path for project management.
• For profiles who want Retrain, Akimbo offers full-time (9 weeks) and part-time (12 weeks) Bootcamps. The purpose of these courses is to teach the skills and methods necessary to access these positions. Participants will benefit from interview preparations and a network of 250 startups to launch their careers in this field.

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Account Executive vs. Account Manager

The 2 roles are very different! The Account Manager comes after the Account Executive in the sales cycle.

The Account Executive qualifies and signs the customers whom the Account Manager will support once the sale has been made. He takes care of the existing contract and guarantees a good commercial relationship to pursue the opportunities associated with it.

Account Manager Salary

As with many commercial professions, the gross salary of an Account Manager depends on several factors such as the sector, seniority or experience of the individual. These are also professions whose remuneration is in the form of a package, consisting of a fixed part (an amount from which they benefit permanently) and a variable part (depending on the objectives achieved).

However, the variable part of an Account Manager is generally more reduced than other Sales jobs. This difference is explained by the difference in missions. The AE position requires a commitment to prospecting and negotiating compared to the AM who has a portfolio to manage.

• For junior account managers with less than 2 years of experience, the gross annual fixed salary is between 32K € and 38 K€ with a variable portion that can range from 15% unto 30% additional.
• For Account Managers with 2 to 5 years of experience, the gross annual fixed salary can reach 38 K€ Up to €50K With in addition 15% unto 30% variable remuneration.
• For Account Managers with more than 5 years of experience, the gross annual fixed salary generally varies between 45 K€ and €70K with an additional variable volume varying between 15% and 30%.

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