We examine 5 sectors to uncover some of the average salaries for a VP of Sales, as well as how variables like location, experience, qualifications, expectations, and company size impact earning potential.

1. VP OF SALES
SALARIES BY INDUSTRY

2. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
The most important person
on a sales team is arguably the
VP OF SALES
WHY?
As a business manager, customer manager and people
manager, they are responsible for all of the key drivers
of profitable revenue growth.

3. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
But with this volume of responsibility comes a top-tier pay
grade that corresponds to the amount of work, their existing
level of experience, and the results they actually produce.
THE QUESTION IS
How do you know what an appropriate
salary is for a VP of Sales?

4. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
Salaries for a VP of Sales is at an
ALL TIME HIGH
$124,193
16%
The nationwide average salary for a VP of Sales is
about $124,193 per year.
CSOs are earning 16% more than they were two years
ago.
77%
Average VP of Sales salary in the U.S. are 77% higher
than the average U.S. salary.
Sources: PayScale, Indeed and Peak Sales Recruiting

5. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
But we wanted to go deeper and examine 5 sectors to
uncover some of the average salaries for this role, as
well as how variables impact earning potential, including:
LOCATION
EXPERIENCE
QUALIFICATIONS
EXPECTATIONS
COMPANY SIZE

6. VP OF SALES SALARIES BY INDUSTRY:
SOFTWARE & NETWORKING

7. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
VP of Sales by Industry:
SOFTWARE & NETWORKING
HIGH
COMMISSION
10%
Sales professionals within the software industry have some of
the highest commission payouts of any industry (upwards of
$1M), and therefore have some of the highest annual earning
potentials.
12.5%
Sources: Salary.com, Monster and Peak Sales Recruiting
Software & networking salaries for top sales executives are
more than 10% higher on average than in every other industry.
Peak’s recruiting records indicate software sales leaders earn
approximately 12.5% more than their peers in the industrial,
manufacturing and professional service verticals.

8. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
VP of Sales by Industry:
SOFTWARE & NETWORKING
TOP-TIER
COMPANIES
For top-tier software
companies, a VP of Sales can
earn a salary of more than
$300K each year (including
commissions and bonuses).
START-UPSVS.
Start-up software or software
as a service companies
(SaaS), pay incentives often
come in the form of stock/
equity for player/coach
roles. Starting base salaries
for a VP of Sales at these
companies begins in the
$160K-$175K range plus equity.

9. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
ILLINOIS
MARYLAND
ARIZONA
COMPANY SIZE
10k+ employees
10k+ employees
10k+ employees
EXPERIENCE
ERP & App
integration
Services,
ARP, CRM
SCM & ERP
REVENUE
RESPONSIBILITIES
$50-100M
$100-250M
$50-100M
HIGHEST ANNUAL
INCOME
$515K
$510K
$500k+
AVERAGE INCOME
SINCE 2012
$225-365K
$265-350K
$385K
There is variance between different locations and varied experience levels, so here’s a glimpse
at what a VP of Sales could earn in areas throughout the U.S. according to Peak’s data:
VP of Sales Salaries by Industry:
SOFTWARE & NETWORKING

10. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
VP of Sales Salaries by Industry:
SOFTWARE & NETWORKING
Boston
Base: $220k
OTE: $255k
New York
Base: $200k
OTE: $350k
Raleigh
Base: $158k
OTE: $250k
Atlanta
Base: $285k
OTE: $410k
Chicago
Base: $300k
OTE: $400k
Austin
Base: $225k
OTE: $400k
Seattle
Base: $130k
OTE: $260k
San Francisco
Base: $300k
OTE: $450k
Los Angeles
Base: $300k
OTE: $400k
Sources: Glassdoor, Salary.com and Peak Sales Recruiting

11. VP OF SALES SALARIES BY INDUSTRY:
MANUFACTURING

12. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
VP of Sales by Industry:
MANUFACTURING
$200K BASE
SIGNIFICANT
VARIATION
The average VP of Sales in the manufacturing industry earns a base salary
of approximately $200K, with a variable OTE depending on the specific
market.
SLOW
GROWTH
Sources: Salary.com, MAPI Foundation and Peak Sales Recruiting
The salary for a VP of Sales for mid-sized manufacturing companies can
range from slightly below the national average to well above for this job title.
Fluctuations in salary may be due in part to the fact that the manufacturing
industry is still recovering from the recession. The manufacturing (on the
industrial production side) still has to increase by 3.4% to reach pre-recession
production levels.
Over the past five years, manufacturing growth was slower than expected,
averaging only about 1% growth each year. Total growth since 2010 was
4.5% slower than last reported. Future growth is also expected to maintain
a slow and modest upward trajectory.

13. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
VP of Sales Salaries by Industry:
MANUFACTURING
Boston
Base: $205k
OTE: $275k
New York
Base: $210k
OTE: $280k
Raleigh
Base: $175k
OTE: $220k
Atlanta
Base: $175k
OTE: $220k
Chicago
Base: $195k
OTE: $265k
Austin
Base: $175k
OTE: $210k
Seattle
Base: $175k
OTE: $205k
San Francisco
Base: $205k
OTE: $280k
Los Angeles
Base: $210k
OTE: $280k
A VP of Sales in the manufacturing sector typically earns a base salary between $170-210K per year in
different locales across the U.S.
Sources: Glassdoor, Salary.com and Peak Sales Recruiting

14. VP OF SALES SALARIES BY INDUSTRY:
TELECOMMUNICATIONS/IT

15. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
VP of Sales by Industry:
TELECOMMUNICATIONS/IT
RAPID
GROWTH
HIGHER WITH
EXPERIENCE
Rapid growth over the past 10 years on the mobile side of telecommunications
has created an aggressive sales market.
STOCK
OPTIONS
Sources: IBM, PayScale and Peak Sales Recruiting
In the telecomm industry, a proven VP Sales, with 5 to 10 years of experience,
earned an average of 7% more than his or her peers, one with 10 to 20
years of experience earned 14% higher, and that late-career executives earn
about 16% higher than the national average.
Stock options almost always tie-in to the VP’s total income within this industry,
since many telecommunications and IT companies are publicly traded. But
across the board, a total annual salary of $250K+ is standard – even for mid-
sized companies.

16. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
Boston
Base: $135k
OTE: $235k
New York
Base: $200k
OTE: $265k
Raleigh
Base: $140k
OTE: $230k
Atlanta
Base: $150k
OTE: $200k
Chicago
Base: $120k
OTE: $250k
Austin
Base: $150k
OTE: $250k
Seattle
Base: $150k
OTE: $225k
San Francisco
Base: $225k
OTE: $315k
Los Angeles
Base: $200k
OTE: $265k
VP of Sales Salaries by Industry:
TELECOMMUNICATIONS/IT
Sources: Glassdoor, Salary.com and Peak Sales Recruiting

17. VP OF SALES SALARIES BY INDUSTRY:
PHARMACEUTICALS

18. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
VP of Sales by Industry:
PHARMACEUTICALS
$217,679
Those with 20+ years of experience, on average, earned a base salary of
$100K or more, with additional annual compensation of $40K+ on top of
that. In comparison, those with less than two years of experience earned a
base salary of around $66,172, with additional bonuses of about $19,453.
ON THE
RISE
Sources: MedReps
A VP of Sales for this industry, earns an average salary of $158,750 per year
plus as much as $58,929 in bonuses–for a total of $217,679 per year.
Average incomes within the pharmaceutical sales industry is on the rise,
with a 5% increase over 2014. 2015’s average total incomes were the highest
they’ve been since 2011.
HIGHER WITH
EXPERIENCE

19. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
VP of Sales by Industry:
PHARMACEUTICALS
The average income for a VP of Sales in the pharmaceutical industry is highest in small
companies:
Sources: MedReps
$182,917
Small
$116,621
Medium
$133,291
Large

20. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
VP of Sales by Industry:
PHARMACEUTICALS
The average income for a VP of Sales in the pharmaceutical industry increases significantly
with more experience:
Sources: MedReps
$85,625
< 2 years
$105,031
2-5 years
$122,201
6-10 years
$132,524
11-20 years
$152,541
20+ years

21. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
VP of Sales by Industry:
PHARMACEUTICALS
The average income for a VP of Sales in the pharmaceutical industry increases significantly
with an increase in travel:
Sources: MedReps
$113,634
0%
$118,906
10%
T
$133,893
25%
$157,866
50%
$168,958
75%

22. VP OF SALES SALARIES BY INDUSTRY:
WRAP-UP

23. B2B SALES RECRUITING SPECIALISTSW W W . P E A K S A L E S R E C R U I T I N G . C O M
Wrap-Up:
ATTRACT THE RIGHT VP SALES
WITH A GREAT COMPENSATION PACKAGE
Sales compensation has an enormous impact on attracting the right VP of Sales. In order to attract
the most suitable and qualified candidates, it is essential that organizations design compensation
packages that are tied to the right goals; that offer simplicity and ease in comprehension; and most
importantly, meet or exceed what the market is bearing.
Resources for Creating a Great Compensation Package on the Peak Blog:
Sales Comp Plans 101 – 5 Basic Things to Know
6 Sales Compensation Secrets That Lead to Great Sales Hires
Three Reasons Sales Compensation Plans Fail
Assessing Your Sales Compensation Plan
Win-Win Sales Compensation Plans

24. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION
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