Sales Jobs UK
Every UK sales role, from SDR to VP — with base salary, OTE, demand level, and what actually gets you hired in each. Plus how to run a high-volume sales job search.
Sales roles in the UK — salaries and demand
Base and OTE figures are 2026 UK market rates. Remote = regularly available as remote/hybrid.
| Role | Base | OTE | Demand | Remote? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Rep (SDR) | £22–35k | £32–55k | Very High | ✓ Yes |
| Business Development Manager (BDM) | £35–55k | £55–90k | High | ✓ Yes |
| Account Executive (AE) | £35–60k | £60–110k | High | ✓ Yes |
| Account Manager (AM) | £30–50k | £45–75k | High | ✓ Yes |
| Sales Manager | £45–70k | £65–100k | Medium | Usually office |
| Enterprise Sales Executive | £60–90k | £100–180k | Medium | ✓ Yes |
| VP / Head of Sales | £80–130k | £130–250k | Low | Usually office |
| Sales Engineer / Solutions Consultant | £50–80k | £70–120k | High | ✓ Yes |
| Field Sales Representative | £28–45k | £45–75k | High | Usually office |
| Inside Sales Representative | £25–40k | £38–60k | High | ✓ Yes |
What each sales role actually involves
Sales Development Rep (SDR)
Entry point into B2B sales. Outbound prospecting, cold calling, email sequences.
Business Development Manager (BDM)
New logo hunting. Mix of inbound and outbound, managing full sales cycle.
Account Executive (AE)
Closing new business. Demo → proposal → negotiation → contract.
Account Manager (AM)
Retention and expansion of existing accounts. Upsell, cross-sell, renewals.
Sales Manager
Managing a team of SDRs or AEs. Hiring, coaching, pipeline reviews.
Enterprise Sales Executive
Large deal sizes (£100k+), 6–18 month cycles. Financial services, NHS, large enterprises.
VP / Head of Sales
Full commercial leadership. Strategy, hiring, board reporting.
Sales Engineer / Solutions Consultant
Technical presales. Demo complex products, answer security/integration questions.
Field Sales Representative
Territory-based, in-person selling. FMCG, medical devices, recruitment.
Inside Sales Representative
Phone and video-based selling. SaaS, financial products, subscriptions.
Which sectors are hiring in UK sales
| Sector | Demand | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS / Tech | Highest | Best OTE, remote-first. Most SDR/AE roles. High churn — always hiring. |
| Financial Services | High | Regulated products, longer cycles, strong base salaries. Often requires CeMAP or RDR. |
| Recruitment / Staffing | Very High | High volume, commission-heavy, 180° model (both BD and delivery). |
| Logistics / Supply Chain | High | Field and inside. Long-term relationships, complex procurement. |
| Medical / Pharma | Medium | High earning potential, requires clinical knowledge for senior roles. |
| Media / Advertising | Medium | Agency and publisher-side. Creative sector, often lower base, strong OTE. |
| Property / Real Estate | High | Residential, commercial. Commission-only common at junior level. |
How to get callbacks in sales job applications
Quantify everything on your CV
"Exceeded quota" means nothing. "Exceeded 115% of quota in Q3 2024, generating £280k ARR from 12 new logos" — that gets interviews.
List your tools
Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, Salesloft, Gong, ZoomInfo, LinkedIn Sales Navigator — list every tool you've used. ATS systems filter on these.
Show your prospecting method
SDR CVs should describe your outbound sequences, channels (phone/email/LinkedIn), and conversion rates. This is what SDR managers actually care about.
Apply at volume — sales is a numbers game
If you treat your job search like a sales pipeline, you know the math: you need 100 applications to get 10 callbacks to get 3 final rounds to get 1 offer.
The sales job market in the UK — 2026
Sales is one of the most consistently in-demand career categories in the UK. SaaS sales in particular — SDR, AE, and CSM roles — continues to grow as UK B2B software adoption accelerates. The best OTEs are in enterprise SaaS (£100–180k for experienced AEs), fintech, and recruitment.
The market split is important: inside sales (phone/video/email based) is overwhelmingly remote-first and offers the most flexibility. Field sales is rebounding post-pandemic and remains critical in medical, FMCG, and property sectors. If you can do both, your options are wider.
Should you use a recruiter or apply directly?
For SDR and junior AE roles, apply directly — recruiters rarely place at this level because the fees don't justify the search time. For mid-to-senior sales roles (£60k+ OTE), a good sales specialist recruiter can open doors. For senior commercial leadership, executive search is the norm.
In all cases: apply directly at volume in parallel. Recruiter pipelines are slow and non-exclusive — you'll often get the same job yourself faster.
Apply to 100 sales jobs tonight
Sales is a numbers game. Your job search should be too. Autoply applies overnight while you focus on prep.
Start free — 10 applications →