Account Executive Salary
Account Executive is one of the most common — and most lucrative — roles in UK technology sales. But “Account Executive” covers an enormous range: from an SMB AE closing £5,000 deals on a 30-day cycle to an Enterprise AE managing a £500,000 multi-stakeholder process over 12 months. The salary ranges are equally wide. This guide breaks down UK Account Executive salary benchmarks by segment, sector, company stage, and location — using live market data from 2025–26. Whether you’re benchmarking your own comp package, building a salary band for a new hire, or deciding whether to make a move, this is the data you need.UK Account Executive Salary Overview 2025–26
Across the UK market, Account Executive base salaries currently sit in the following ranges:- Average UK AE base salary: £47,000–£57,000
- Typical UK AE OTE: £80,000–£110,000
- London AE base: £55,000–£75,000
- London AE OTE: £100,000–£140,000+
- Top performers (Enterprise/Strategic AE): £90,000–£120,000 base, £180,000–£250,000+ OTE
Account Executive Salary by Segment: SMB vs Mid-Market vs Enterprise
The biggest driver of AE compensation is not experience or tenure — it’s the market segment and deal size. Here’s how the numbers stack up across the three core segments:SMB Account Executive Salary UK
- Base salary: £32,000–£50,000
- OTE: £55,000–£85,000
- Typical quota: £500,000–£1M ARR
- Average ACV: £2,000–£15,000
- Sales cycle: 2–6 weeks
Mid-Market Account Executive Salary UK
- Base salary: £50,000–£70,000
- OTE: £90,000–£130,000
- Typical quota: £1M–£2.5M ARR
- Average ACV: £15,000–£75,000
- Sales cycle: 4–12 weeks
Enterprise Account Executive Salary UK
- Base salary: £70,000–£110,000
- OTE: £130,000–£220,000+
- Typical quota: £2M–£5M+ ARR
- Average ACV: £75,000–£500,000+
- Sales cycle: 3–18 months
Hiring Account Executives in the UK?
Live Digital places AEs across SaaS, fintech, and B2B technology businesses. We can help you benchmark packages, build salary bands, and source candidates who’ve consistently hit quota.
Speak to our teamAccount Executive OTE Structure: How Commission Works
Most UK SaaS companies structure AE OTE on a 50/50 base/variable split, meaning a £60,000 base comes with £60,000 in target variable — giving £120,000 OTE at 100% quota attainment. Some companies use 60/40 (more base-heavy) for stability, or 40/60 (more variable-heavy) for higher upside potential. The structure of the variable component matters as much as the headline OTE. Key things to evaluate:- Accelerators: Does the plan include accelerated commission above 100% quota attainment? The best plans pay 1.5x or 2x per deal above 100%.
- Clawback provisions: Are there clawbacks if a customer churns within 90–180 days? This is common but the terms vary significantly.
- Ramping: How long is the ramp period? Most UK SaaS companies offer 3–6 months of quota ramp. Longer ramps with full OTE protection are a competitive differentiator.
- Multi-year deal credit: If you close a 3-year deal, do you get credit for the full contract value or just year one? This significantly affects total earnings.
- Expansion credit: Do AEs get paid on upsell and expansion within their existing accounts, or does that go to Account Management or CS?
Account Executive Salary by Sector
Sector matters alongside segment. The highest AE compensation in the UK market is concentrated in fintech, cybersecurity, and infrastructure software — products with high deal values and strong ROI narratives. Here’s a rough sector breakdown:- Fintech / financial services software: £55,000–£85,000 base, OTE £100,000–£160,000
- Cybersecurity: £55,000–£90,000 base, OTE £110,000–£180,000
- Data / analytics platforms: £50,000–£80,000 base, OTE £95,000–£160,000
- HR / workforce tech: £45,000–£65,000 base, OTE £85,000–£120,000
- MarTech / CRM: £40,000–£60,000 base, OTE £75,000–£110,000
- Vertical SaaS / SMB-focused: £35,000–£55,000 base, OTE £60,000–£95,000
Account Executive Salary by Location
London commands the highest AE salaries in the UK, typically 15–25% above equivalent roles in Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, or the Midlands. However, the gap has narrowed since 2020 as remote and hybrid working became standard — many companies now pay London rates for fully remote UK roles.- London: £55,000–£80,000 base, OTE £100,000–£150,000+
- Manchester / Leeds: £42,000–£60,000 base, OTE £75,000–£105,000
- Bristol / Bath: £42,000–£58,000 base, OTE £75,000–£100,000
- Edinburgh / Glasgow: £40,000–£55,000 base, OTE £70,000–£95,000
- Remote UK (London-based company): Increasingly converging with London rates
Account Executive Salary by Company Stage
Early-stage companies often compensate for lower base salaries with equity. This can be very lucrative (or not — most early-stage equity is worth nothing at exit), but it’s a real factor in compensation comparison. Here’s how AE packages shift by stage:- Seed / Pre-Series A: £35,000–£50,000 base, OTE £65,000–£90,000, EMI options likely
- Series A / B: £45,000–£65,000 base, OTE £80,000–£120,000, options probable
- Series C+ / growth stage: £55,000–£80,000 base, OTE £100,000–£150,000, LTIP or RSU scheme
- Listed / PE-backed mature: £50,000–£75,000 base, OTE £90,000–£140,000, structured bonus
What Quota Attainment Actually Looks Like in the UK Market
One important nuance often missing from salary guides: the headline OTE is only meaningful if quota is achievable. UK SaaS benchmark data (from RepVue and similar platforms) suggests that average quota attainment across enterprise AE roles is 60–70% — meaning a significant proportion of AEs are earning 60–70% of their stated OTE in any given year. When evaluating a role or benchmarking a comp structure, ask:- What percentage of the AE team hit 100% quota last year?
- What was the median attainment across the team?
- How many AEs are in the team and how many resigned or were managed out in the last 12 months?
Account Executive Career Progression and Salary Growth
The AE career path in UK SaaS typically progresses as follows:- SDR/BDR (0–2 years): £28,000–£38,000 base, OTE £45,000–£60,000
- SMB/Junior AE (1–3 years): £35,000–£50,000 base, OTE £60,000–£85,000
- Mid-Market AE (3–6 years): £50,000–£70,000 base, OTE £90,000–£130,000
- Senior / Enterprise AE (5–10 years): £70,000–£100,000 base, OTE £130,000–£200,000+
- Sales Manager / Team Lead (6+ years): £65,000–£85,000 base, OTE £100,000–£140,000
- VP of Sales (8+ years): £100,000–£160,000 base, OTE £160,000–£280,000
Looking for your next AE role in UK tech?
Live Digital works with SaaS, fintech, and B2B technology companies across the UK. We can help you find roles that match your segment experience and salary expectations.
Browse current roles