Founded in 1999, Salesforce is one of the most long-running CRM providers that still enjoys a great degree of success. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that the company is a hugely desirable employer for many people who are carving out a career in software sales.
Salesforce has been a huge name in the world of tech sales pretty much since its inception, and with a great reputation for its company culture to boot, it remains an exceedingly attractive prospect for promising sales professionals.
If you’re looking to launch or advance your career in software sales, and you think working as an account executive for Salesforce may be the way to do it, then this post is for you. Here’s a closer look at Salesforce account executive salary, what life at the company is like, and the skills you’ll need to be successful.
Salesforce Account Executive Salary
On average, a Salesforce account executive can expect to earn $60,155 a year as a base salary. This places the salary slightly above the US average of $59,268. This difference may sound low for working at a tech firm as large as Salesforce, however, it’s important to remember that Salesforce maintains 26 different offices throughout the US, with each different location creating nuances in terms of salary benchmarks for tech professionals. Account executives will also have the opportunity to earn additional compensation through commissions and bonuses.
After a few years of experience and successfully meeting targets, an account executive can advance to become a senior account executive, whose salaries average at $76,125.
When gauging the salary range for Salesforce account executives, it’s also important to note that Salesforce provides a wide range of products to its customers. Aside from its well-known CRM suite, it also sells products to assist in marketing, eCommerce, and analytics, among other essential business functions. Having an account executive position that’s aligned with one or more of these specialties can also have a big impact on your yearly compensation.
What Working as a Salesforce Account Executive is Like
As a Salesforce account executive, you’ll be working closely with prospects, leads, and existing customers to help Salesforce sell more of their software solutions, help existing customers to make the most of the software suites provided by Salesforce, and find new ways to reach their unique goals. This will involve liaising with a wide range of stakeholders from some exciting and forward-thinking companies, all the while enjoying being a part of Salesforce’s uniquely collaborative culture.
A typical day will be spent managing the accounts you’re assigned to, a large part of which will be dealing with client communications through a variety of channels, including phone calls, email, and more modern platforms. Account executives will also function in a customer service capacity, resolving customer issues and handling any complaints in a professional, timely manner. You’ll also be expected to organize regular client meetings in a schedule deemed appropriate to meet department targets, in which you’ll check up on customers, talk through their requirements, and take steps to ensure their products are up to standard.
Salesforce account executives can also have some project management responsibilities from the start, with tasks such as identifying opportunities for new business, monitoring sales performance analytics, and drafting reports based on them, as well as making sure that sales projects stay within budget and time constraints.
Salesforce account executives will also be given some minor line management duties from the start, and be required to help supervise and coach junior sales account reps as they take the first steps in their sales career.
As with any software sales position, an account executive will also be expected to develop and maintain a keen knowledge of the products Salesforce provides, staying up-to-date on new product and feature launches, and ensuring they’re always able to answer a customer’s questions.
Salesforce Account Executive - Skills and Experience
As a leading tech company, Salesforce sets a high bar for any new candidates applying to their sales positions, and those with little or no sales experience may find it hard to get an interview.
Salesforce requires new account executives to have a strong background in consultative selling, including good prospecting skills, and planning and closing skills. Account executives will also need to display specific mid-pipeline sales skills, such as objection handling, solution selling, a competitive attitude to work, and all-around good business acumen that will help when discussing issues and solutions with customers.
Salesforce also prides itself on maintaining a collaborative environment. With this in mind, candidates would do well to demonstrate soft skills that are beneficial in a team-oriented environment, such as communication, negotiation and conflict resolution, and coordination with colleagues.
As with any sales position at a large company, being able to work in a high-pressure environment and meet tight deadlines is essential.
Wrapping Up…
If you’re considering pursuing a career as a Salesforce account executive, we hope this guide has helped clarify the skills you’ll need to develop and the working life you can expect from an account management career at Salesforce.
If you’d like to learn more about careers in tech sales, be sure to check out our other tips and guides, or browse our job board for your next sales opportunity.