Sales recruitment agencies know that reps are the heroes behind every successful company. Here are some of the best companies to sell for in 2023.
Entry-level sales jobs have a tendency to be a catch-all. Some people aim for them because they’re an entryway into a business career. Others are still trying to figure out where they want their career to go, so they assume a sales job is as good as any to pay the bills. And then there are those who are truly natural-born salespeople who are launching a great career of growth and success.
If you’re building a career in sales, whether you’re in your early years or you have experience behind you, getting into a great company will make all the difference in the years to come. The right sales team can create a vehicle for lucrative commissions, professional growth, and a generally positive work experience.
How do you know which companies have that potential? Take it from the experts who have seen it all: sales recruitment agencies. Start with these top contenders.
How Our Headhunter Sales Experts Ranked the Best Companies to Sell For
Most of our rankings for this list are based on feedback and reports from the people who know better than anyone about a company’s sales workforce: the employees themselves. We looked at employees’ satisfaction with their employer overall as well as in specific areas such as diversity, equity, and inclusion, compensation, and benefits.
In addition, our headhunter sales experts reviewed the average salary for sales staff. To keep the data consistent and easy to compare, we analyzed the pay for two positions in particular: Account Manager and Sales Associate.
In 2021, more and more employees want to work remotely. Because of this, we accounted for remote work and work flexibility in our rankings as well. Finally, we took a look at other experts’ rankings as well by checking for each company’s placements on Best Places to Work lists.
With all this data put together, we’ve discovered 13 of the top companies to sell for in 2023.
Top Companies to Sell for in 2023
If you’re looking for the next step in your sales career, make sure you land at a company that will invest in you, foster your growth, and creates a welcoming and enjoyable place to work at the same time. We also recommend talking to one of our headhunters in sales to learn more about the various career paths in sales. Now, for our top picks:
1. Motorola Mobility
With all our criteria and data combined, Motorola Mobility ranked at the top. The most notable difference was in the average salary for account managers: a whopping $160,000 annually. Not only are employees happy with the company overall, but they’re especially impressed by the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy. Benefits are a key employee favorite too, and remote and flexible work options abound.
2. IBM
IBM is a popular name among sales recruitment agencies for many reasons. For starters, it is toward the top of the list for salaries, listing their average pay for account managers at $105,000 per year. IBM’s strong reputation within the growing world of tech also provides great job security, so you can expect to stay around for a long time as you build your career and rise through the ranks. Like Motorola, IBM also has a progressive DEI strategy as well as growing remote work options for its team members.
3. Deloitte
Deloitte is an impressive company for sales teams in many respects, but what we found most notable was how frequently it appears on “Best Places to Work” lists nationwide and in regions throughout the country. It has a culture of growth and positivity, and it shows. Its pay is competitive as well, averaging $93,000 per year for account managers and $64,000 per year for sales associates.
4. United Airlines
United Airlines doesn’t have quite the high sales pay that most of the other companies do on this list. It appears to average around $73,000 for account managers and $60,000 for sales associates. The company’s pay may be middle-of-the-road, but employees say that it makes up for this with strong benefits packages, inclusive DEI programs, and overall positive company culture.
5. Ernst & Young
Like Deloitte, Ernst and Young is a frequent flyer on “Best Places to Work” lists. Despite the fact that the company has offices all over the world (in 150 countries, in fact), it manages to maintain a unified culture of growth and professionalism. Ernst and Young, or EY, has sales pay rates that are toward the top of the middle, averaging $87,000 per year for account managers and $54,000 per year for sales associates. However, employees think especially highly of their DEI efforts that contribute to an inclusive community.
6. AT&T
When it comes to the pay, AT&T is similar to EY. They pay an average of $85,000 annually for account managers and $45,000 annually for sales associates. The interesting aspect of AT&T’s sales team is that they feel the financial aspects of the company, like compensation and benefits are strong but they aren’t as excited about the overall atmosphere and culture of the company.
7. Cognizant Technology Solutions
Cognizant Technology Solutions is in a similar position to AT&T, but its pay is even more impressive. In fact, by paying account managers an average of $118,000 per year and paying sales associates $94,000 per year on average, Cognizant is one of the highest-paying companies on our list for its sales teams. While this is enough of a draw for many, it’s important to note that employees are lukewarm about Cognizant’s DEI strategy and its benefits package.
8. JP Morgan
JP Morgan is the exact opposite of AT&T and Cognizant. Its sales employees say that the company hits it out of the park when it comes to benefits, with strong paid time off packages as well as insurance benefits even for part-time employees. However, the pay isn’t as strong. JP Morgan’s account managers only bring in an average of $58,000 per year, but interestingly, its sales associates receive an average of $88,000 per year. JP Morgan also has minimal options for remote work.
9. Tata Consultancy
If you want to prioritize companies that embrace and emphasize DEI in their work cultures, Tata Consultancy should be on your to-apply list. The company’s employees rate its DEI strategy as among the strongest on this list. Financially, Tata Consultancy is also a top contender for account managers, as they make an average of $105,000 per year. Sales associates, on the other hand, make around $38,000 per year, so be sure that you’re looking at the correct avenues when you apply for Tata’s sales team.
10. Accenture
Accenture is one of the best places for salespeople to work, and we aren’t the only ones who think so. On top of great employee feedback, Accenture has been assessed as a top employer on many “Best Places to Work” lists in recent years. It’s especially praised for its DEI policies. There are usually downsides, though, and in Accenture’s case, it’s the pay rate. With an average pay of $78,000 per year for account managers and $44,000 per year for sales associates, Accenture is in the middle of the pack at best.
11. PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers, or PwC, is another popular addition to “Best Places to Work” lists, and our headhunter sales experts couldn’t agree with those assessments more. For starters, PwC has strong compensation packages, paying its account managers $99,000 annually on average and paying sales associates an average of $65,000 per year. Along with high pay rates, PwC boasts strong employee benefits to boot.
12. Amazon
When it comes to pay, Amazon ranks in the upper-middle range for its sales staff. Account managers bring in an average of $88,000 per year. Sales associates, on the other hand, are hourly staff that are paid about $16 per hour, though, so it’s best to get into the account management track as quickly as possible. Amazon’s most favorable quality, though, is its abundance of flexible and remote working options.
13. CDW
Every person has different priorities and criteria when they look for work, and that’s why we felt the need to include CDW on our list despite the fact that its pay is low by comparison to others listed above. Account managers at CDW make an average of $54,000 per year while sales associates make $30,000 per year on average. Still, CDW’s sales employees note its wonderful work culture, competitive benefits packages, and a strong commitment to DEI.
How to Get a Sales Job with a Great Company
Depending on your priorities and your goals for your sales career, any of the companies above could be the perfect fit for your next step. How do you get into those in-demand companies, though?
It helps to have experts like a headhunter in sales or sales recruitment agencies on your side. Contact our experts today to learn more about getting into our database and getting connected with your next dream job. We can help you determine where you’ll be the best fit and help you get your foot in the door.