Account executives are professionals who develop relationships with potential and existing clients to sell products, services or solutions on behalf of a company. They play a key sales role by managing client accounts, identifying new business opportunities and ensuring customer satisfaction. Account executives typically earn commissions or bonuses based on the revenue or profitability of the accounts they manage. This article will provide an overview of how much account executives in Ireland can expect to earn based on their experience level and factors like industry, company size and geographic location.
Salary Overview
According to PayScale.com, the average base salary for an account executive in Ireland is €37,874 per year, with a range of €26,000 to €68,000 annually. Total compensation including bonuses, commissions and profit sharing can range from €30,000 to €130,000.
Some key factors that influence account executive salaries in Ireland include:
– Experience Level: Entry-level account execs tend to make less, while senior executives can earn higher pay. Those with 5-10 years experience average around €55,000.
– Industry: Pharmaceutical and medical sales account execs earn the highest pay at approximately €65,000. Those in advertising, media and tech make closer to the average while retail is on the lower end.
– Company Size: Account execs at large multinational corporations tend to earn more than those at smaller local firms. Larger sales teams and budgets allow for higher pay scales.
– Location: Account execs in major cities like Dublin tend to earn 10-15% more than those in other parts of the country.
Entry-Level Account Executive Salary
Those just starting out as account executives in Ireland can expect lower salaries, often earning between €26,000 and €38,000 annually. Recent graduates may start around €28,000 while those with 1-2 years experience may make closer to €35,000. Entry-level account execs at larger companies or in fields like pharmaceuticals can sometimes start above €40,000.
As account executives gain more experience, hit sales targets and prove their ability to manage client accounts, salaries usually increase. Most are able to earn promotions and pay increases within their first 2-5 years on the job.
Mid-Level Account Executive Salary
After gaining 3-7 years of account executive experience, professionals can expect to earn middle-tier salaries. The average for mid-level account execs is approximately €55,000 annually, with many earning between €45,000 and €65,000 depending on specific factors.
Those working for major technology or pharmaceutical companies often exceed €60,000 at this point in their careers. Dublin-based account execs also sit at the higher end of mid-level pay.
Key factors for higher pay include hitting sales targets, retaining clients and generating new business through referrals or other sales initiatives. Mid-level account execs may also manage junior sales team members at some companies.
Senior Account Executive Salary
With 8 or more years as an account executive, individuals can achieve senior status and earn the highest pay. On average, senior account executives make approximately €70,000 in Ireland with salaries ranging from €55,000 to over €100,000.
Higher pay is attributed to factors like managing large client accounts and sales teams, consistently exceeding targets and playing a strategic role in business development. Developing new solutions, products or initiatives to drive revenue can also mean bigger salaries.
Those in top industries like tech or pharma at large corporations are most likely to earn over €80,000 at this stage. For example, a Senior Account Executive at a multinational tech firm could make between €90-120,000 annually.
Account Executive Bonuses and Commissions
In addition to base salaries, account executives have significant earning potential through bonuses and sales commissions. Most companies offer performance-based bonuses for hitting certain targets – these often range from 5% to 20% of salary. Exceeding sales goals can mean bonuses exceeding €10,000-15,000.
Commissions are also very common, usually 15-30% of sales. For example, an account exec who sells €5 million of product could earn €750,000-1,500,000 commission. Factors like profit margins determine the commission percentage.
With strong performance, total compensation for senior account executives can surpass €200,000 when including salary, bonuses and commissions.
Factors Influencing Account Executive Salaries
Beyond the core factors of experience, industry, company and location, there are a few other aspects that impact account executive pay in Ireland.
Education and Qualifications
Most account exec roles require at minimum a bachelor’s degree, preferably in business, marketing or a related field. Those with master’s degrees in business administration or who hold certain certifications tend to earn higher salaries. Ongoing training and education is valued at many companies.
Sales Performance and Targets
Exceeding quarterly or annual sales targets is the most direct path to higher pay through bonuses and commissions. Bringing in major new clients also leads to salary increases and promotions. Consistently high performers earn the biggest paychecks.
Client Portfolio Size
Managing larger accounts with higher revenue potential commands bigger salaries. Enterprise clients spend more than SMB accounts, so account execs with larger portfolios and pipelines earn more.
Industry Experience
Besides broader sales experience, specific industry knowledge is highly valued. For example, someone selling fintech solutions earns more due to understanding that vertical vs. a generalist with less expertise.
Highest Paying Industries for Account Executives
While account executives work across many industries, some tend to offer higher pay than others in Ireland.
Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Sales
Account executives selling pharmaceuticals, biotech, and medical devices are often the highest paid. Major companies offer salaries averaging €65,000 or more, especially for those selling high value products and devices. Domain expertise is highly valued.
Technology and Software
From hardware to software to services, technology sales account execs also see high salaries, often over €60,000 on average. Companies value industry and technical knowledge in addition to sales skills.
Financial Services
Selling services and solutions to banks, insurers and other financial institutions demands good pay. Domain expertise around regulations, financials and data is required on top of sales abilities. Salaries often exceed €55,000.
Media, Advertising and Agencies
Selling advertising, media spend and other services for agencies and publishers offers strong salaries thanks to big budgets. Experience negotiating and selling creative campaigns also brings higher account executive pay.
Business Services and Consulting
Sales execs at strategy, HR, IT services and consulting firms leverage specific expertise to earn strong salaries. Compensation can exceed €60,000 for those selling high value services.
Highest Paying Companies for Account Executives
While salaries can vary greatly based on multiple factors, some of the top-paying firms for account execs in Ireland include:
– Google – Base salaries starting around €55,000 plus performance bonuses.
– SAP – Strong base pay plus commissions on software sales.
– Oracle – High performer salaries of €80,000+ driven by strong commissions.
– IBM – Salaries averaging €65,000+ for experienced account execs at this tech giant.
– Accenture – Base pay up to €75,000 for those selling management consulting services.
– Merck – Pharmaceutical sales account execs earn €70,000+ on average.
– Pfizer – Salaries often exceeding €65,000 plus huge commission potential.
– Johnson & Johnson – Strong medical device sales payclose to €80,000 for seasoned execs.
– AstraZeneca – Major pharma firm with some of Ireland’s highest account executive salaries.
– PwC – Consulting services sales roles paying €65,000+ for experienced execs.
Conclusion
In summary, account executive salaries in Ireland span a wide range but generally fall between €40,000 to €80,000 on average based on experience, industry, company, performance and other factors. Major corporations in pharma, tech and other fields tend to pay the highest base salaries and commissions. But ultimately sales skills, relationships and consistent performance determining earning potential for most account executives in the Irish market. Those able to consistently exceed targets can earn total compensation up to €200,000 or more annually.