What is the salary and career path for a account executive?
Account executives are reported under Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel (SOC 41-3091), a close BLS match for services and B2B selling. The OEWS May 2025 median is $69,990 a year ($33.65 an hour), but because pay is heavily commission-driven the range is wide — $37,980 at the 10th percentile to $148,840 at the 90th, and strong closers with quota attainment reach the top end. BLS projects the code to grow 3.1% over 2024–2034, about average, with roughly 123,000 openings a year. There's generally no license; what matters is a track record of hitting quota, plus CRM and sales-methodology fluency.
- Account Executives are reported under SOC 41-3091 with a $69,990 median (BLS OEWS May 2025); commission-driven top earners clear $148,840.
- The role carries a quota and closes new business, generally without a license — quota attainment is the credential.
- BLS projects the code to grow 3.1% through 2034, about average, with roughly 123,000 openings a year.
- The ladder runs from SDR to account executive to enterprise AE and on into sales management.
Career Path
How do you become a account executive?
Sales development rep (SDR/BDR)
Prospecting and booking meetings for closers sits near the $37,980 10th percentile of the code.
Account Executive
Carrying a quota and closing new business earns the $69,990 median for SOC 41-3091, with commission on top.
Senior / enterprise AE
Closing larger, complex deals reaches the $100,480 75th percentile before commission.
Sales manager / director
Top enterprise sellers hit the $148,840 90th percentile; many move into sales management.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays account executives the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 41-3091. National median: $69,990. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does account executive pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles account executives most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: account executives rank 4 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +3.1% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly account executives clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 41-3091 (account executives) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do account executives need?
CRM platform credentials proving pipeline, forecasting and sales-tool proficiency. See all state licences →
MEDDIC, Challenger or SPIN Selling certifications that structure how deals are run.
Most B2B and services selling needs no license; quota attainment is the real credential.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do account executives use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 41-3091
Salary Levers
How do account executives earn above the $69,990 BLS median?
Consistently attain or beat quota
Hitting your number and earning commission moves pay from the $37,980 floor toward and past the $69,990 median.
Move up-market to enterprise deals
Closing larger, complex accounts pushes pay toward the $100,480 75th percentile before commission.
Become a top closer or sales leader
Elite quota attainment reaches the $148,840 top decile, and sales management opens further earning.
This Route vs. College
Is becoming an account executive worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 41-3091. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Account Executive Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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