Sales job offer comparison calculator: which offer pays more?
Compare expected year-one pay, not OTE.
Try it: year-one pay for each offer
Leave an offer blank to ignore it. Use the attainment you expect at each company, not 100%.
Swipe the table sideways to see Offers B and C.
| Offer A | Offer B | Offer C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base (£) | |||
| Variable at 100% (£) | |||
| Expected attainment (%) | |||
| Accelerator above 100% (x) | |||
| Sign-on bonus (£) | |||
| Equity per year, your estimate (£) |
How the calculator works
Year-one pay is base plus variable at your expected attainment. Add sign-on and a yearly equity estimate. Below 100% attainment you earn variable multiplied by attainment. Above it you earn the full variable plus the extra attainment times the accelerator.
With the default numbers, offer A pays £88,000 at 70% attainment. Offer B has the bigger OTE but pays £85,000 at 50% attainment. Change the attainment and the order changes.
What the numbers leave out
- Caps on commission. Ask whether there is one, and where it starts.
- Draws and ramp. A guaranteed first quarter changes year-one pay.
- Clawbacks and payment timing. Commission paid late is worth less.
- Equity. Use a low estimate. It may never pay out.
Start from the OTE calculator if you want take-home pay for one offer. Then read how to compare sales job offers and the salary negotiation scripts.
Questions
How do I compare two sales job offers?
Compare expected year-one pay, not OTE. Use base, variable at a realistic attainment, sign-on and a cautious equity estimate.
Why can a lower OTE pay more?
Quota, accelerators and caps decide what you actually earn. A lower quota or a better accelerator can beat a bigger OTE.
Which attainment should I use?
Ask what share of reps hit quota last year. Use that figure for each company.
Also: commission accelerator comparison, account executive salary in the UK, non-competes and garden leave.
Related guides
Sales OTE calculator
Base, variable and attainment to expected pay and UK take-home.
Sales commission calculator
Rate, accelerator and cap to commission earned.
How to compare sales job offers
Compare on year-one pay: a four-step method and a worked example.
Salary negotiation scripts
A phone script, replies for "best offer" and the levers beyond base.
Run your search like a pipeline
A Notion kit for sellers changing roles. It has a target list and a pipeline board with follow-ups due. It also has recruiter scripts, negotiation scripts and an offer calculator for year-one pay. £14, one payment, plus VAT for UK and EU buyers.
Principled Pitch is independent. Pay, quotas and hiring processes vary by company and country. Check the details of any role with the recruiter.