4 Types of SaaS Sales Jobs In High Demand Right Now

SaaS sales jobs aren’t hard to come by these days. And that’s a good thing! Seriously, check out our job board because there are a TON of open SaaS sales jobs right now.

In 2022, there are tons of opportunities out there for anyone looking to start a career in tech sales or take their love for sales in a new direction. The industry is not only recession-proof, but landing a job in sales is not down to luck. It’s knowing which SaaS sales jobs are in high demand right now and making sure you have what it takes to stand out from other applicants.

Some people are natural people-people. In sales, they simply talk to others about products without pretense and convince their customers that they absolutely need a service or a product.

The beauty of a job in sales, however, is that even if you aren’t an excellent communicator yet, there is an opportunity to grow and find YOUR unique way of contributing to a team. Whether that’s customer-facing or behind the scenes. You have a skillset, you have strengths, and chances are, one of these 4 types of SaaS sales jobs will be the PERFECT fit for you.

1. Business Development Representatives (BDRs)

BDRs are the closest thing to what most people think of when they hear about a sales representative. You can’t overstate the importance of a great BDR. They’re the ones making the initial approach and potentially starting a long-lasting business relationship with new clients. They’re the company’s prospectors.

In that respect, the role of the BDR still follows a traditional approach. But in 2022, we’re not talking about someone going door to door offering their wares anymore. 

BDRs still use techniques like cold calling, but many of their approaches now are more sophisticated and based on a value add approach, especially in tech. Their goal is to initiate relationships with people who have a specific need for the product they’re offering. Social selling, networking, and cold emailing are some of the most popular techniques used by BDRs today. 

Often, they do quite a bit of research before contacting a person to optimize everyone’s time, and avoid wasting efforts on a customer that wouldn’t need a product. Just a few decades ago, research and pre-qualifying were simply not possible to the same degree without the Internet and LinkedIn. Now, there’s less door-slamming and more open negotiation conversations being had between BDRs and customers, putting the power in your hands as a BDR to meet your quotas! Today’s BDRs nurture their leads and work on setting qualified appointments to ensure great conversion rates. How important is their job? Well, if your business is not nurturing leads, then there is nothing to close later.

How Much Can You Make as a BDR?

BDR positions are considered entry-level jobs, but they can pay surprisingly well. Average salaries range between just over US$48,000 and US$53,000. That being said, some BDRs make nearly double. That means. With commissions and bonuses, you could find yourself earning more than US$70,000 in an entry-level position.

For a complete overview, read our BDR salary guide.

2. Sales Leadership/BDR Managers

Most BDRs are part of a sales team led by a sales leadership person or BDR manager. If you’ve been in a BDR role for a while, stepping up into a management position could be a natural next career move.

As a BDR Manager, you’re helping your team of prospectors perform better and deliver more. It’s up to you to keep your team motivated and skilled to help them meet their targets. Taking a sales leadership role is certainly a step up in terms of personal development. You’re still close to sales, but you’re now applying your skills in a VERY different way.

How Much Does a BDR Manager Take Home?

Like with BDR roles, there is a lot of variation when it comes to salaries. In the United States, average BDR manager salaries range from US$54,000 to more than US$121,000 per annum. That’s before commissions or bonuses. 

How bonuses or commissions are paid tends to differ from one company to the next. Basically, BDR managers are given targets their teams need to achieve. If they meet or exceed their targets, bonuses can be significant. That being said, for most BDR Managers, the step towards management is more about career and personal development than about salary. Most BDR Managers, even with bonuses, can make the same — or, in some cases less — than a high-performing BDR.

For a complete overview, read our BDR Manager salary guide.

3. Customer Success Managers (CSM)

Customer success managers are fairly new on the scene. Their role begins when the initial sale has been closed. Whilst BDRs open the door to a long and successful customer relationship, CSMs ensure that the door remains open.

CSMs look after customers post-sale and throughout the entire customer lifecycle. This is an exciting role for those who like forging their own position in a company. Out of all 4 roles we’re talking about here, this is potentially the one with the biggest growth rate. More and more tech companies are starting to understand that retaining customers — not just converting them to begin with — is key to long-term growth. 

As the SaaS industry continues to change, opportunities for Customer Success Managers are popping up everywhere. These positions are perfect for people with sales skills and experience who want to take their careers in a different direction. They’re also perfect for anyone who enjoys building long-term customer relationships.  

How Much Does a CSM Take Home?

CSMs in the U.S. make between just over US$66,000 and nearly US$76,000 per year. Some of the most successful individuals can make nearly US$120,000!

There is huge variety in the pay you can expect from a CSM role depending on the company you work at, the industry you work in, and the experience you bring to the table. Having tech-related skills can certainly be beneficial when you’re negotiating your salary in the field. On top of that, you can expect bonuses and commissions. In many cases, these are significant. 

For a complete overview, read our CSM salary guide.

4. Account Managers

Let’s round this out with a look at a field that has been around for some time — account management. Whether you’re looking at an entry-level account manager role or a more senior account management position, chances are you’re good at making connections and building relationships.

Account managers form the connection between new business for a company and its clients. Over the customer lifespan, they will be instrumental in growing revenue and ensuring the customer and the organization remains relevant to each other through additional sales opportunities. 

To succeed in this position within the tech industry, you need a good understanding of the product and an affinity with technology. Both will help when it comes to upselling and maintaining a long-term customer relationship.

How Much Does an Account Manager Make?

The average in the U.S. seems to lie around US$70,000 per annum, but some account execs make more than US$80,000. Plus, there are hefty commissions to be made in this field, so you can expect to take home more than that.

Industry insights have shown that those working in a large finance and tech companies make far more than that. 

Don’t Have All the Skills For Tech Sales Jobs Yet? Fear Not.

If you’ve decided that one of the roles above sounds perfect for you, there may be a few key skills you’re missing to get that foot in the door or take that step up. Here’s the thing — sales is a practical field. A lot of the most successful people started simply by using their natural talent and learning the key skills they needed from industry pros.

Uvaro's straightforward, practical approach to career programming can teach you what you need to know to land a role in tech in as little as 4-6 weeks. And then our ongoing career support is there to make sure you succeed in that role! 

With tens of thousands of SaaS sales jobs there for the taking, what are you waiting for? Tech Sales is a rapidly growing industry. Getting into the field now means you can flesh out your role and take advantage of an industry that is only growing stronger. What are you waiting for?