Sales/Quota-carrying
Quota-carrying
The revenue engine — from booking meetings as an SDR to closing strategic accounts. Pay is OTE (base + commission at target); attainment drives everything.
US medians, indicative and sourced — never a guarantee.
Roles at a glance
| Role | Level | Median (US) | Difficulty | Demand | AI-risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Rep (SDR) | R1 | $85,000 | Low | High | High |
| Account Executive (AE) | A1 | $200,000 | Med | High | Med |
| Senior Account Executive | A2 | $240,000 | Med | High | Low |
| Enterprise Account Executive | A3 | $275,000 | High | Med | Low |
| Strategic Account Executive | A4 | $300,000 | High | Med | Low |
Climb the ladder
Progression is driven by scope and level, not tenure. Years shown are typical, not required.
Attainment moves — hit the number, move up
Impact promotions — same track, bigger scope
Segment moves — SMB to mid-market to enterprise
The evidence
Typical route into Strategic Account Executive: Enterprise Account Executive, ~3 yrs.
Source: RepVue strategic-AE tenure signal; segment progression
Readiness, quantified
Wherever you are on this ladder, the next rung is measurable.
Pick your current role and SkillReceipts maps every route open to you across sales — real pay at every rung, typical years per move, and exactly what's missing for the next one. Free, no sign-up.
Check my routes — free →Credentials that help
Credentials help entry and specialisation; scope drives seniority.
- Sandler Sales training · $3,000
- Salesforce Certified Administrator · $200
- MEDDIC / MEDDPICC certification (MEDDIC Academy) · $297
- Challenger Sale training/certification · Quote-based; aggregators cite $400 to several thousand per learner
Ask the advisor
The questions this page can't answer about you.
Map your trajectory first — the advisor answers against your role, your metro, and this family's sourced data.
Questions, answered straight
What does a career in quota-carrying pay?
Entry-level Sales Development Rep (SDR) runs around $85,000 (US median, indicative); the family tops out near $300,000 at Strategic Account Executive. Every figure is a sourced, indicative range — location, company stage, and equity move it substantially.
Which quota-carrying role is most in demand?
Sales Development Rep (SDR) carries the strongest hiring demand in this family (high). Very high front-line hiring volume + churn (RepVue), but broad BLS sales-rep SOC only +1% and AI automation is a headwind - high near-term openings, softening structural demand. Net 3 on current volume, watch AI.
How do you move up in quota-carrying?
Progression is by scope and level, not tenure — e.g. Sales Development Rep (SDR) → Account Executive (AE) (~1.75 yrs typical). Each move on the ladder above shows its typical years and whether it's an impact promotion or a track switch.
How exposed is quota-carrying to AI?
Sales Development Rep (SDR) carries the highest AI exposure in this family; Senior Account Executive, Enterprise Account Executive, Strategic Account Executive rate lowest — scope and judgment are the hedge. Ratings are indicative signals, not predictions.
Do you need a degree or certification for quota-carrying?
Credentials help entry and specialisation — this family most often rewards Sandler Sales training, Salesforce Certified Administrator, MEDDIC / MEDDPICC certification (MEDDIC Academy). Past entry, scope and delivered impact drive seniority more than paper.
Explore the roles
See what you'd earn on this ladder.
Pick your role. Sixty seconds later, every route through quota-carrying is mapped.
See my routes — free →Figures are indicative, in USD, and never a guarantee of an outcome. Personas and guides are added as the family's content is authored.