Sales Development Representative (SDR): career path and pay in the US
Where a Sales Development Representative (SDR) goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Sales Development Representative (SDR) to SDR Manager / Business Development Manager.
Also for the United Kingdom: Sales Development Representative (SDR) in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 2 years
Sales Development Representative (SDR)
$40K to $65K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Salesforce Certified Administrator (optional) - Global, HubSpot Sales Software Certification (optional) - Global.
Step 2 · 2 to 4 years
Senior SDR / SDR Team Lead
$100K to $150K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant - Global, HubSpot Sales Software Certification - Global.
Step 3 · 4 to 7 years
SDR Manager / Business Development Manager
$115K to $170K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Salesforce Certified Sales Cloud Consultant - Global, Sales Management Certification (optional) - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
76% → 52%
Falls 24 points. Each step is harder to automate than the last. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$40K to $65K → $115K to $170K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. The published figure for Sales Development Manager sat below the previous step, so this band is set 12% above it.
What the work involves
Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administrative
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management
- Computers and Electronics
Education people bring
Job Zone 2, job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Other paths from here
More Sales/Business Development paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Customer Service Representatives, Telemarketers, Sales Managers, Advertising Sales Agents, Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.