Salaries by role and city
Current salary bands for tech sales roles across Germany’s largest markets — base, variable, and OTE. Built on 1,042 real hyrise placements at 218 German tech companies.
Munich pays tech sales roles typically 10–15% above the Berlin baseline, Frankfurt sits 0–5% above, Hamburg 1–2% below — while Berlin has the largest talent pool and the most open positions. Full bands by role, level, and city below.
SDR salary by city
Sales Development Reps open the pipeline. Entry-level pay is mostly base salary with a 20–30% variable kicker tied to meetings and pipeline generated.
| City | Junior SDR (0–1 yrs) | Mid-Level SDR (1–2 yrs) | Senior SDR (2+ yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 50.000 – 60.000 € | 55.000 – 70.000 € | 65.000 – 80.000 € |
| Munich | 56.000 – 67.000 € | 62.000 – 78.000 € | 73.000 – 90.000 € |
| Hamburg | 50.000 – 59.000 € | 54.000 – 69.000 € | 64.000 – 79.000 € |
| Frankfurt | 52.000 – 62.000 € | 57.000 – 72.000 € | 67.000 – 82.000 € |
OTE at full target — base plus variable.
Berlin is Germany's largest tech sales talent pool. More open SDR positions than any other German city — from Series A startups to public tech. Cost of living is moderate compared to Munich; salaries sit at the market standard.
Munich is Germany's most expensive tech sales city — and pays accordingly. Established SaaS players, enterprise tech, and AI startups dominate the market. SDR salaries typically sit 10–15% above the national midpoint, but have to absorb higher cost of living.
Hamburg has a smaller but concentrated tech sales market. Logistics, maritime, and e-commerce SaaS are particularly strong. SDR salaries sit slightly below Berlin level, but quality of life and shorter commutes often make up for it.
Frankfurt is Germany's financial capital with a growing tech sales market. FinTech, banking SaaS, and enterprise software dominate — SDR salaries sit 0–5% above the national midpoint. The market is smaller than Berlin but concentrated and well-compensated.
Account Executive salary by city
Account Executives own the close. Variable climbs to 40–50% of OTE as you move from mid-market to enterprise deals.
| City | Junior AE (1–2 yrs) | Mid-Level AE (2–5 yrs) | Senior / Enterprise AE (5+ yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 80.000 – 100.000 € | 105.000 – 140.000 € | 150.000 – 200.000 € |
| Munich | 90.000 – 112.000 € | 118.000 – 157.000 € | 168.000 – 224.000 € |
| Hamburg | 79.000 – 99.000 € | 104.000 – 139.000 € | 149.000 – 198.000 € |
| Frankfurt | 82.000 – 103.000 € | 108.000 – 144.000 € | 155.000 – 206.000 € |
OTE at full target — base plus variable.
Berlin is the capital of AE roles in Germany — Series B-to-D SaaS, established scale-ups, and a growing enterprise market. AE comp here covers a wide range; variable share runs from 30% (mid-market) up to 50% (enterprise).
Munich pays AEs typically 10–15% above Berlin. Enterprise sales roles at established tech players dominate — variable share typically sits at the high end (45–50% of OTE) for longer, larger deal cycles.
Hamburg has a smaller but quality-dense AE market. Logistics tech, e-commerce SaaS, and maritime software offer particularly well-paid senior AE positions with high variable shares.
Frankfurt is particularly attractive for senior AEs in FinTech and enterprise software. Deal sizes here are above average, pulling variable packages upward. AE salaries sit 0–5% above Berlin level.
Sales Manager salary by city
Sales leaders carry a team quota. Packages run from first-line manager to VP of Sales, increasingly with an equity component on top of cash.
| City | First-Line Sales Manager (5–10 reports) | Senior Sales Manager / Director (10+ reports) | VP of Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 125.000 – 170.000 € | 170.000 – 230.000 € | 220.000 – 320.000 € |
| Munich | 140.000 – 190.000 € | 190.000 – 258.000 € | 246.000 – 358.000 € |
| Hamburg | 124.000 – 168.000 € | 168.000 – 228.000 € | 218.000 – 317.000 € |
| Frankfurt | 129.000 – 175.000 € | 175.000 – 237.000 € | 227.000 – 330.000 € |
OTE at full target — base plus variable.
Berlin is Germany's most active sales manager market. The majority of German Series B-to-D tech companies have their sales HQ here. First-line to VP-of-Sales positions are filled regularly; the pool of experienced sales leaders is deep.
Munich leads on senior sales manager and VP positions — especially at enterprise tech players with DACH+ or global remits. Packages typically sit 10–15% above Berlin, with higher equity components at public tech.
Hamburg has a smaller sales manager market, but high specialisation. First-line manager positions at e-commerce, logistics, and maritime SaaS are common; VP roles are rarer but, when available, often very well paid.
Frankfurt has a smaller but high-quality sales manager market. FinTech scale-ups and international banking SaaS companies regularly seek first-line to VP-level leaders. Packages compete with Munich; equity components are often above average.
Frequently asked questions
Which German city pays the most for tech sales roles?
Munich — typically 10–15% above the Berlin baseline, most strongly at senior and VP level. But higher rents and cost of living mean the net advantage is smaller than the gross difference.
Where are the most open tech sales positions in Germany?
Berlin — Germany’s largest tech sales talent pool, with more open positions than any other German city, from Series A startups to public tech.
How do Hamburg and Frankfurt compare?
Hamburg sits 1–2% below Berlin with much lower rents than Munich and strong niches in logistics, maritime, and e-commerce SaaS. Frankfurt sits 0–5% above the national midpoint, with particular strength in FinTech and enterprise SaaS — deal sizes there are above average, which pulls variable packages upward.
These bands are the quick reference. For the full context — how OTE is built, how to negotiate, and how the cities stack up in detail — read the long-form guides.