Post job

What is an inside sales account executive and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Kaustav Misra Ph.D.,
John Cicala Ph.D.

Just call them salespeople; an average sales Account Executive (AE) is a salesperson. Their primary responsibility is to serve its customers' needs while closing new sales deals with new customers. They are usually given targets and are paid commissions on every company product or service they sell.

Sales Account Executive is often seen in marketing and media agencies too. They are tasked with bringing in more clients and are referred to as "full-cycle sales reps," this is because they have what it takes to perform the job of Sales Development Rep (SDR) and a customer service team. As for their salaries, it differs.

An average salary (commission) of a sales account executive ranges from $31,000-$63,000, depending on the industry and geography. A sales account executive working for a big Software company in Boston earns $350,000 per year; another working with some smaller manufacturing somewhere in North Carolina earns around $80,000 per year.

To qualify for this job, you must possess good communication skills, high Empathy, composure, Negotiation skills, Goal-oriented, and presentation skills. As for academic qualification, you will need a degree in marketing, sales, or business-related courses. Having a master's degree is also an added advantage.

What general advice would you give to an inside sales account executive?

Kaustav Misra Ph.D.Kaustav Misra Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Dean, Central Connecticut State University

I have spent almost two decades in the higher education industry and about a decade in administration. I often advised students, and it is astonishing to see how many of these students do not plan for their future. A good plan is a starting point to lead a good and successful career and life. Hence, by all means, it is worth noting that developing a future-oriented focus is important, so taking time to streamline the plan should be an important exercise for every graduate before they begin to do anything.
ScoreInside Sales Account ExecutiveUS Average
Salary
4.9

Avg. Salary $63,049

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.1

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 5.20%

Black or African American 3.88%

Hispanic or Latino 14.52%

Unknown 3.72%

White 72.44%

Gender

female 40.56%

male 59.44%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Inside sales account executive career paths

Key steps to become an inside sales account executive

  1. Explore inside sales account executive education requirements

    Most common inside sales account executive degrees

    Bachelor's

    77.0 %

    Associate

    12.1 %

    Master's

    4.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific inside sales account executive skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Strong Work Ethic13.19%
    Customer Service7.91%
    CRM7.15%
    Inbound Calls6.84%
    Salesforce5.95%
  3. Complete relevant inside sales account executive training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New inside sales account executives learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an inside sales account executive based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real inside sales account executive resumes.
  4. Research inside sales account executive duties and responsibilities

    • Manage CRM and POS software as well as proficient in various product software.
    • Operate Salesforce and manage opportunities accordingly.
    • Ensure all target prospect/client contacts and engagement opportunities are record in the ZOHO CRM.
    • Execute daily customer meetings via phone, WebEx and coordinate onsite meetings with outside counterpart.
  5. Prepare your inside sales account executive resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your inside sales account executive resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an inside sales account executive resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable inside sales account executive resume templates

    Build a professional inside sales account executive resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your inside sales account executive resume.
    Inside Sales Account Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Account Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Account Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Account Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Account Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Account Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Account Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Account Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Account Executive Resume
  6. Apply for inside sales account executive jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an inside sales account executive job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first inside sales account executive job

Zippi

Are you an inside sales account executive?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average inside sales account executive salary

The average inside sales account executive salary in the United States is $63,049 per year or $30 per hour. Inside sales account executive salaries range between $37,000 and $104,000 per year.

Average inside sales account executive salary
$63,049 Yearly
$30.31 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do inside sales account executives rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Inside sales account executive reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Communicating and helping my clients.

Cons

The travel was extensive. Sometimes. It took more than month to close a deaĺ.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

i enjoy the interaction with people, listen the customer in order to convert him/her into your friend, detect and help customer with his/her needs.

Cons

People without vision, dreams and selfishness.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Marketing products from a traceable companies to consumers and providing a good service to the clients .

Cons

I don't like to work for a company without good management which results in disappointing consumers


Working as an inside sales account executive? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.