Sales roles remain a core driver of business growth across nearly every industry in Australia. From entry-level customer-facing positions to senior roles managing major accounts, sales careers offer clear progression pathways and strong earning potential.
The reality is that sales pay structures vary widely. Base salaries are often combined with commissions, bonuses, or performance incentives, meaning total earnings can differ significantly between roles and industries. This is especially true in highest paid sales jobs, where revenue responsibility and client ownership directly influence pay.
This article breaks down sales salaries in Australia using the latest SEEK data. It covers average earnings across representative, executive, management, and business development roles, highlighting which positions pay the most and what drives those differences. Whether you’re entering sales or aiming to progress into a senior position, here’s a clear overview of sales salary expectations across Australia.
The table below compares the highest paying sales roles in Australia, based on average annual salary data from SEEK.
Job Title | Average Salary (AUD) |
Sales salaries in Australia generally range from $60k to $130k per year, depending on the role and level of responsibility. Entry-level positions such as sales assistants and sales associates typically earn between $60k and $70k, while sales representatives and consultants move into the $75k-$95k range.
The average sales representative salary sits between $75k and $95k, with commission often forming a significant portion of total earnings. In many industries, high-performing representatives can exceed the average through incentives tied to volume, revenue, or
new client acquisition.
As professionals progress into executive, management, or account ownership roles, base salaries increase alongside responsibility for revenue, teams, and long-term client relationships.
Below are some of the top-paying sales positions and the factors that influence their earning potential.
Key Account Managers oversee relationships with high-value or strategic clients, managing long-term contracts and driving revenue growth across key portfolios.
Earnings increase with account size, revenue responsibility, and the complexity
of national or enterprise-level client relationships.
Business Development Managers focus on identifying new market opportunities, building partnerships, and securing long-term revenue streams for the business.
Higher pay is driven by deal size, industry focus, and consistent performance against growth targets.
Sales Managers lead sales teams, set targets, monitor performance, and align sales activity with broader business objectives.
Earnings grow with team size, leadership scope, and responsibility for regional or national sales outcomes.
Account Managers maintain and grow existing client relationships, handling renewals,
upselling, and ongoing service delivery across assigned portfolios.
Higher salaries are common in roles managing complex portfolios or high-value clients in competitive industries.
Sales Executives manage the full sales cycle, from prospecting and negotiation through to closing deals and client handover.
Pay increases with autonomy, deal complexity, and consistent revenue delivery.
Sales Representatives promote products or services, manage customer relationships, and close sales within assigned territories or accounts.
Earnings are influenced by commission structures, sales volume, and the industry in which the role operates.
Sales Consultants provide tailored product or service recommendations, focusing on understanding customer needs and driving conversion outcomes.
Higher pay is linked to specialisation, industry knowledge, and performance-based incentives.
Sales assistants support sales teams through customer service, administration, and in-store or account-level assistance.
Earnings increase with experience and progression into representative or consultant roles.
Sales careers in Australia can be a challenging yet exciting role to step into. It offers a wide range of earning potential, shaped by performance, commission structures, and career progression. From entry-level roles to senior leadership positions, sales provides clear pathways for income growth over time.
Explore more sales careers to discover more insights, compare up-to-date salary information across sales roles, and uncover potential career paths in Australia.
Source: SEEK data, roles based on average advertised salaries of over $150,000 for
job ads listed on SEEK from July 23 to June 24 to July 24 to June 25. A minimum threshold of job ads on SEEK is required for a role to appear in this table.