Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative Salary in the United States

How much does an Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative in the United States is $80,310 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, an Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $91,186
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $72,599 to $86,003
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $65,579
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View as table View as graph 25% $72,599 10% $65,579 90% $91,186 75% $86,003 $80,310 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $86,003 $7,167 $1,654 $41
Average $80,310 $6,693 $1,544 $39
25th Percentile $72,599 $6,050 $1,396 $35
Check out Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative Job Openings in the United States
Senior Account Sales Representative

Spectrum - Cincinnati, OH

Field Sales Account Representative

Grainger - Columbus, OH

Account Coffee Sales Representative

Hall's Culligan Water - Independence, OH

Account Representative Medicare Sales

Molina Healthcare - Dayton, OH

Search More Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative Salaries

An Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $59,156
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $79,124
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $103,018
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $132,702
  • Expert (over 8 years): $128,267
Levels Salary
Channel S... Level Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative$59,156
Account E... Level Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative$79,124
Channel S... Level Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative$103,018
Channel S... Level Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative$132,702
Channel S... Level Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative$128,267
$59,156 0 yr
$79,124 < 2 yrs
$103,018 2-4 yrs
$132,702 5-8 yrs
$128,267 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Account Executive/Outside Sales Representatives. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $88,920.
  • California: $88,582.
  • Massachusetts: $87,402.

Top Paying Cities for Account Executive/Outside Sales Representatives

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $101,296
  • San Francisco: $100,186
  • Oakland: $98,075

What Skills Can Increase an Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.96% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • CRM (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): Customer relationship management (CRM) is a technology for managing all your company's relationships and interactions with customers and potential customers.
  • Business To Business (Mentioned in 1.26% Job Postings): A type of electronic commerce (e-commerce), is the exchange of products, services or information between businesses, rather than between businesses and consumers (B2C).
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.96%
CRM 2.27%
Business To Business 1.26%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative's salary.
  • Conflict Resolution: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
  • Strategic Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 32%.
  • Field Sales: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Conflict Resolution
$106,813
33%
Strategic Communication
$106,010
32%
Field Sales
$91,554
14%
Innovation
$89,145
11%
Analysis
$86,735
8%
PowerPoint
$85,932
7%
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Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$112,435$54.040%
Pharmaceuticals$108,419$52.035%
Biotechnology$104,404$50.030%
Financial Services$100,388$48.025%
Energy & Utilities$96,372$46.020%

How Education impacts an Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Account Executive/Outside Sales Representatives enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative with a Associate's Degree is between $79,111 and $85,467).

Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.9%
High School 11.5%
Associates 3.8%
Bachelors 69.2%
Masters 13.5%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative

Salaries for an Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $74,931 in 2023 to around $74,585 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$74,931
2024
$74,874
2025
$74,585
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $74,931
2024 $74,874
2025 $74,585
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative

Here are companies hiring for Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Account Executive/Outside Sales Representative job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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