Head of Sales and VP Sales salaries in the UK and US (2026)
Sales leader packages swing more than any other role here. Here’s what startups pay in 2026, and what moves it.
Updated November 2026. All figures are drafts pending Jono’s sign-off.
United Kingdom.
OTE (base:variable) for permanent hires at venture-backed startups. London, then the rest of the UK.
| Level | London | Rest of UK |
|---|---|---|
| Sales manager | £110k-£150k OTE · 60:40 | £90k-£125k OTE · 60:40 |
| Head of Sales | £140k-£200k OTE · 60:40 | £115k-£165k OTE · 60:40 |
| Sales director | £170k-£240k OTE · 60:40 | £140k-£195k OTE · 60:40 |
| VP Sales | £200k-£300k OTE · 50:50 | £165k-£245k OTE · 50:50 |
| CRO | £250k-£400k OTE · 50:50 | £210k-£320k OTE · 50:50 |
United States.
OTE (base:variable). San Francisco and New York, then everywhere else, including remote.
| Level | SF / NY | Other US and remote |
|---|---|---|
| Sales manager | $200k-$270k OTE · 60:40 | $170k-$230k OTE · 60:40 |
| Head of Sales | $250k-$340k OTE · 60:40 | $210k-$290k OTE · 60:40 |
| Sales director | $280k-$380k OTE · 60:40 | $240k-$330k OTE · 60:40 |
| VP Sales | $320k-$480k OTE · 50:50 | $280k-$420k OTE · 50:50 |
| CRO | $400k-$650k OTE · 50:50 | $340k-$550k OTE · 50:50 |
Typical option grants.
For a mid-level or senior hire, as a percentage of the company.
- Seed
- 0.5%-2.0%
- Series A
- 0.3%-1.0%
- Series B+
- 0.1%-0.5%
What moves the number.
- 01Team size and target. The bigger the team and the number, the bigger the package.
- 02Built vs inherited. People who’ve built a team from scratch command a premium.
- 03Equity mix. Early-stage leaders often trade cash for a bigger stake.
- 04US experience. Leaders who’ve opened the US for a UK company are in demand.
If you’re hiring one.
- Hire a builder, not an inheritor, before Series B.
- Tie part of the variable to team targets, not just new revenue.
- Ask to see the numbers. A good sales leader expects you to check.
Ranges are typical, not limits. A great candidate in a hot market can sit above them.