What is a good OTE for an SDR or BDR?
Updated October 28, 2026 · Based on 429 job postings · Methodology
A good OTE for an SDR or BDR in 2026 is about $85k (the median stated OTE across 172 current US postings); $100k or more puts an offer in the top quarter, and below $72k is the bottom quarter.
SDR / BDR pay distribution, US
| Postings | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTE (base + commission) | 172 | $72k | $85k | $100k | $110k |
| Base salary | 257 | $62k | $80k | $100k | $120k |
| All postings with pay | 429 | $65k | $82k | $100k | $115k |
Top-paying companies for SDRs and BDRs
| Company | Postings | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| StackAI | 2 | $132k |
| Listen Labs | 2 | $130k |
| Defense Unicorns | 3 | $130k |
| LangChain | 2 | $125k |
| Simple AI | 2 | $120k |
| Exa | 2 | $115k |
| Omni | 2 | $112k |
| Cresta | 2 | $110k |
| Eliseai | 3 | $109k |
| Ramp | 4 | $108k |
Highest-paying open SDR / BDR roles
Related: SDR / BDR pay report · Highest-paying SDR / BDR jobs · What is OTE?
FAQ
How much do SDRs and BDRs make?
The median posted pay for SDRs and BDRs in the US is $82k (midpoint of the employer's range, 429 postings). Base-only postings have a median of $80k.
Is OTE the same as salary?
No. OTE (on-target earnings) is base salary plus the target commission or bonus you earn at 100% of quota. Only the base is guaranteed.
Where does this data come from?
Employer-posted pay ranges on 13,057 live sales job postings from public Greenhouse, Lever and Ashby job boards, refreshed daily by OTE Jobs.
Cite this: “According to OTE Jobs data, a good OTE for an SDR or BDR in 2026 is about $85k (the median stated OTE across 172 current US postings); $100k or more puts an offer in the top quarter, and below $72k is the bottom quarter.” Source: OTE Jobs (otejobs.com), October 28, 2026. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link to this page.