Account Executive Jobs in San Francisco

Learn about the responsibilities and key skills required to become a successful Account Executive in San Francisco's flourishing tech sector.

Launch Your Sales Career in San Francisco

The San Francisco Bay Area consistently scores first in the nation for quality of life. Additionally, it's considered one of the top places for ambitious, motivated people to launch their sales careers. Due to the city's abundance of sales talent, established tech companies and numerous startups call San Francisco home.

Successful companies go to where the skilled salespeople are rather than attempting to attract salespeople to them. As a result, innovative tech companies and talented salespeople make San Francisco the healthiest tech ecosystem in the country.

Despite how expensive San Francisco is known to be, it consistently ranks as having the highest quality of life in the US. San Francisco is well-known worldwide for its delectable cuisine, vibrant arts scene, and stunning homes.

San Francisco As the Definitive Tech Hub

The very definition of tech hub, in the eyes of many, is San Francisco. It is the home of Google, Facebook, Apple, Twitter, and numerous other cutting-edge tech businesses currently transforming the globe.

The most recent advances in AI and cloud computing have been made in San Francisco. How we transact business in today's world is largely thanks to the developments in new technologies coming out of the Bay Area.

While there is a lot of technological research and development in the US, San Francisco is where some of the most exciting breakthroughs occur. Businesses require exceptional sales personnel to help get this technology into people's hands.

Responsibilities Of an Account Executive in SF

Account Executives in San Francisco's tech sector promote products and services to businesses and companies in a wide variety of industries, including medicine, manufacturing, research and development, finance, and education.

An Account Executive is expected to meet certain sales quotas the Sales Manager sets. Their compensation is usually determined by base pay, commissions, and bonuses after reaching or exceeding quotas.

The AE may take on clients directly, research potential clients, and make cold calls in addition to receiving leads from SDRs. A successful Account Executive will follow up with customer service departments or speak with customers directly after a sale to determine whether products are meeting their demands.

What Skills Do Companies Look For?

Here are qualities and experience needed for a successful career as an Account Executive:

• Experience - Employers seek applicants with at least five years of sales experience in their own or a similar field.
• Outstanding communication skills - AEs must be comfortable making sales calls, leaving voicemails, composing emails, and delivering presentations.
• Excellent listening skills - Being able to listen to consumers, comprehend problems, and probe to find the best answer.
• Resilience - Developing a thick skin and being prepared to bounce back from setbacks.
• Self-starting - Carrying out responsibilities without being urged on by management.
• Emotional intelligence - Self-awareness that makes it easier to relate to prospects' requirements and concerns.
• Open to feedback - Taking criticism well and continuously looking for methods to improve.

How Much Can an AE Earn In San Francisco?

San Francisco is one of the best-paying tech sales markets in the country—easily beating out other US cities.

The average base salary for an Account Executive working in San Francisco is around $106,000. Additional compensation from commissions and bonuses could result in another $50,000.

A skilled Account Executive could earn more as they gain more experience and knowledge of the local tech industry.

Career Path For an AE in San Francisco

As they gain more experience, Account Executives have a variety of tech sales tracks to select from:

• Customer Success Manager
• Account Manager
• Marketing Specialist
• Channel Sales Manager
• Strategic Accounts Manager
• Sales Training Manager
• Sales Operations Manager