Sales career guide

SDR salary in India (2026)

By Vandana Agarwal, sales development leader · Updated 4 November 2026

SDRs and BDRs at SaaS companies in India typically earn ₹10–22 lakh a year in total pay (fixed plus variable), from what I have seen working in sales development. How much of that is fixed depends on the company. Freshers, and roles selling only into India, often start lower.

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What moves SDR pay up or down

The market you sell into matters most: roles selling into the US, UK or Europe usually pay more than roles selling into India. Then the company: funded or global SaaS companies tend to pay more than small local firms. Experience, outbound versus inbound work, and US or UK shift hours also change the offer.

Fixed pay, variable pay and OTE

SDR offers are usually quoted as OTE, on-target earnings: fixed pay plus the variable pay you earn at 100% of target. Variable is usually paid monthly or quarterly on meetings held or pipeline created. Two offers with the same OTE can be very different if one is mostly fixed and the other mostly variable.

What to ask before you accept

Ask for the fixed and variable split, what the target is and how it is measured, how many SDRs hit target last quarter, how often variable is paid, whether there are accelerators above target, and how long the ramp period is before full target applies.

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Questions people ask

What is the average SDR salary in India?

Most SDR and BDR roles at SaaS companies pay around ₹10–22 lakh a year in total pay, fixed plus variable. Fresher roles and roles selling only into India often start below that range.

Do SDRs get commission?

Yes, as variable pay tied to meetings held or pipeline created, not closed revenue. It is usually paid monthly or quarterly and is part of the OTE quoted in the offer.

Do SDRs selling to the US earn more?

Usually, yes. Roles selling into the US, UK or Europe tend to pay more than India-only roles, and often involve shifted working hours. Ask whether a shift allowance or transport is included.

How much more does an Account Executive earn than an SDR?

A clear step up. AEs at SaaS companies in India typically earn ₹17–30 lakh a year in total pay, with a larger share as variable tied to closed revenue.

Is SDR a good job in India?

For people who want a B2B sales career, yes: it is the most common way into SaaS sales, pay is good for an entry role, and most companies promote strong SDRs to Account Executive within one to two years.

How do I negotiate an SDR offer?

Compare offers on OTE and on how achievable the target is, not just fixed pay. Ask how many SDRs hit target last quarter, and negotiate the fixed part if the variable looks hard to earn.