How to ask for a pay rise in sales
In sales your numbers are public. That makes the case easier to build than in most jobs. It also makes it easier to get wrong. The mistake is asking for "a bit more" in a corridor. Treat it like a deal instead. Your manager is the champion and their boss holds the budget. Give the champion everything they need to sell it upwards.
1. Log your wins as they happen
Managers forget and budget holders never knew. Keep a running log: the win, the metric, why it mattered and who noticed. Wins seen by someone senior carry more weight. Five wins with numbers beat fifteen without.
2. Build the case
| Part | What to bring |
|---|---|
| Their goals | Ask your manager what they are measured on this year |
| Your evidence | Three to five wins from your log, each with a number |
| The market rate | A dated public pay guide for your role and region |
| The ask | A specific number, a start date and what you will deliver in six months |
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3. Pick your moment
Good times: right after a strong quarter, or a month or two before budgets are set. Or when your scope has outgrown the job description. Bad: straight after a missed quarter, during a hiring freeze, or over chat.
4. Make the ask, then put it in writing
"I know your focus this year is [goal]. Over the last [period] I've [win with a number], [win with a number] and [win]. For this role in [area], pay guides put it at around [£X]. I'd like to ask for a base of [£Z] from [date]. What would you need from me to take this forward?"
Send a short recap email the same day. Then the ask and the next step are on record.
If the answer is no
Leave with something concrete. A title that reflects your scope, a bigger patch or a development budget. Or a dated review with agreed targets in writing. If none of those move either, that tells you something. Our guide to comparing sales job offers shows what a move would really pay. Our Sales Job Search Kit runs the next step like a pipeline.
Questions
How much should I ask for?
A specific number, anchored to a dated market rate for your role and region. Not a percentage plucked from the air.
How often can I ask for a pay rise in sales?
Once a year as a rule, timed before budgets are set. Ask sooner if your role or results change a lot in between.
What is in the template?
A Wins Log tracker, the case builder and good and bad moments. A meeting script, a follow-up email and what to ask for if the answer is no.
Also: resigning from a sales job.
Related guides
Salary negotiation scripts
A phone script, replies for "best offer" and the levers beyond base.
How to negotiate sales OTE
Pay mix, quota realism, accelerators and a two-offer worked example.
AE 30-60-90-day plan
A template and example goals for writing the plan, for AE roles.
Build the case in an evening
A Wins Log tracker and the full playbook as a Notion template. Works on the free Notion plan.
General guidance, not legal, tax or financial advice.