VP of Sales Salary Guide
2025 · Sales
VP of Sales compensation is heavily OTE-driven and scales sharply with company ARR. Here's the full picture for 2025, base, variable, equity, and what candidates actually expect.
$180K–$320K
National Base Range
$240K
Median Base Salary
$300K–$650K+
Total Comp Range
Market Overview
The VP of Sales remains one of the most hired and most replaced executive roles in the market. Demand is consistently high, but so is turnover, which makes competitive compensation and clear expectations both critical. OTE structure, quota attainability, and equity are the three levers that separate offers that close from offers that don't.
Key Insights for 2025
OTE (base + variable) is more important than base for VP of Sales candidates, most expect 50/50 or 60/40 splits
VPs at companies with sub-$10M ARR accept lower base in exchange for higher equity upside
Quota attainability disclosure during the offer process has become a standard candidate expectation
Enterprise sales VPs earn 20–30% more than SMB/mid-market counterparts at comparable company stages
Non-competes for sales VPs are enforceable in some states, candidates increasingly ask about this before signing
Compensation by Company Stage
| Stage | Base Range | Equity | Total Comp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seed / Series A (<$10M ARR) | $140K–$190K | 0.20%–0.60% | $220K–$360K OTE |
| Series B ($10M–$40M ARR) | $180K–$240K | 0.10%–0.30% | $300K–$480K OTE |
| Series C–D ($40M–$150M ARR) | $220K–$300K | 0.04%–0.12% | $380K–$580K OTE |
| Pre-IPO / Public | $270K–$360K | RSUs/LTIPs | $450K–$680K+ OTE |
Base Salary by Location
San Francisco / Bay Area
+30% vs. national
$234K–$416K
New York City
+25% vs. national
$225K–$400K
Austin
+2% vs. national
$184K–$326K
Chicago
+5% vs. national
$189K–$336K
Phoenix / Scottsdale
-3% vs. national
$175K–$310K
Remote
National baseline
$180K–$320K
Bonus Structure
Variable comp is 40–60% of base OTE, tied directly to new ARR bookings, quota attainment, and sometimes gross margin. Accelerators above 100% quota are standard at growth-stage companies.
Key Skills at This Level
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