An account executive in IT and SaaS sales in Denmark earned a median of about DKK 73,700 a month in 2025 and an average of DKK 79,337, including pension and bonus (Danmarks Statistik, ICT sales, DISCO 2434). The middle half earned between about DKK 54,400 and 98,800. AEs outside IT earn less: commercial sales representatives (DISCO 3322) averaged DKK 58,892.
There is no official statistic for the job title account executive, and a large part of the pay is commission. This guide shows which numbers fit the role, how AE pay is built from base salary, commission and OTE, and what a typical AE commission plan looks like in kroner.
How we did this: Pay data comes from Danmarks Statistik, table LONS20, for 2025 (all sectors, men and women). Account executive is a job title, not an occupation in the statistics, so we show the occupations AEs usually fall under. Pay mix and quota figures are from the Bridge Group and mainly cover US software companies. The worked examples are illustrative, not benchmarks. Sources are listed at the end.
What does an account executive earn in Denmark?
Danmarks Statistik reports pay by occupation (DISCO-08, the Danish version of ISCO-08), not by job title. An account executive selling software, IT services or telecoms usually falls under ICT sales (DISCO 2434). An AE selling other goods and services to businesses usually falls under commercial sales representatives (DISCO 3322).
The figures are standardized monthly earnings for 2025. They include base pay, pension, benefits and irregular payments such as bonuses, but not overtime.
| Measure (2025) | ICT sales (2434) | Sales representatives (3322) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower quartile | about DKK 54,400 | about DKK 43,700 |
| Median | about DKK 73,700 | about DKK 54,800 |
| Average | DKK 79,337 | DKK 58,892 |
| Upper quartile | about DKK 98,800 | about DKK 70,300 |
| Average per year (x 12) | DKK 952,044 | DKK 706,704 |
| Full-time employees covered | about 4,100 | about 30,000 |
The median and quartiles are converted from Danmarks Statistik's hourly figures using the agency's own factor (160.33 hours a month) and rounded to the nearest DKK 100. For comparison, all employees in Denmark averaged DKK 52,846 a month in 2025.
The spread is widest in ICT sales. A quarter earn less than about DKK 54,400 and a quarter earn more than about DKK 98,800. The statistics don't explain the spread, but segment, experience and how much of quota the rep reached all pull in different directions.
Which occupation fits your AE?
- ICT sales (2434): AEs in SaaS, software, IT services and telecoms. Most AE roles in tech belong here.
- Commercial sales representatives (3322): AEs and sales executives selling media, recruitment, logistics or other B2B services. The group is broad and also includes many field sales consultants.
- Technical and medical sales (2433): AEs selling technical products or medical devices. The average here was DKK 75,439 a month in 2025.
The employer reports the occupation, so the same title can end up in different groups. Use the group that matches what your AE sells, not the title.
What the numbers don't show
- No figures for the title. The statistics don't separate account executives from sales executives, sales consultants or key account managers. They sit in the same occupations.
- Actual pay, not OTE. The figures show what was paid. For an AE on commission, that depends on how much of quota was reached, and the agreed on-target earnings can be higher.
- Pension is included. Contract salaries in Denmark are usually quoted without pension, so they look lower than the statistics.
- Nothing on segment or seniority. Danmarks Statistik doesn't break these occupations down by SMB, mid-market and enterprise or by years of experience, so we don't show such figures.
- The smallest companies are left out. The statistics cover the public sector and private companies with at least 10 full-time employees, so AEs at small startups are not included.
For SDRs, sales managers and other sales roles, see our overview of sales salaries in Denmark.
How account executive pay is structured
AE pay usually has three parts that add up to OTE (on-target earnings): total pay when the AE hits 100% of quota.
| Part | What it is | Typical for an AE |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | Fixed monthly pay regardless of results | The safe part, often half of OTE or more |
| Commission | A percentage of the revenue, ARR or contract value the AE closes | Most of the variable pay |
| Bonus | A fixed amount for hitting a goal, such as a quarterly quota or a product target | A top-up to commission |
| OTE | Base plus variable pay at 100% of quota | The number in the job ad |
Pay mix: how big is the variable part?
The split between fixed and variable pay is the pay mix. The Bridge Group found a median of 53% base and 47% variable for account executives in 2024, mostly at US software companies. In our experience, Danish companies often put more into base salary, for example 60/40 or 70/30. There is no published Danish survey of AE pay mix.
Quota and OTE go together
Quota should be set in proportion to OTE. The Bridge Group's 2026 report puts the median quota-to-OTE ratio at 4.6x. An AE with an OTE of DKK 900,000 would then carry an annual quota of just over DKK 4.1 million. The same report found that only 48% of AEs hit quota, so many AEs earn less than their OTE. You can test your own numbers in the OTE calculator.
A typical account executive commission plan
Commission is what sets AE pay apart from most other jobs. A typical plan has five building blocks:
- Base for commission: What commission is calculated on, such as first-year contract value (ACV), new ARR or gross margin. In SaaS, new ARR or ACV is most common.
- Rate: Variable pay at 100% divided by quota. With DKK 360,000 in variable pay and a DKK 3.6 million quota, the rate is 10%.
- Accelerators: A higher rate once quota is reached, for example 1.5x the base rate. See how an accelerator works.
- Timing: When commission is earned and when it is paid, for example at signature or once the customer's first invoice is paid.
- Clawback: What happens if the customer cancels within an agreed period. See clawback.
New AEs often get a ramp period with a reduced quota or guaranteed commission. The Bridge Group reports an average AE ramp of 6.2 months in 2026. Rates for SDRs, account managers and sales leaders are in commission rates by role.
Worked example: an AE at a Danish SaaS company
Example (illustrative, not a benchmark): a mid-market AE has an OTE of DKK 900,000 a year with a 60/40 pay mix.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base salary | DKK 540,000 a year (DKK 45,000 a month) |
| Variable pay at 100% | DKK 360,000 a year |
| OTE | DKK 900,000 a year (DKK 75,000 a month) |
| Annual quota (4x OTE) | DKK 3,600,000 in new ARR |
| Commission rate up to quota | 10% of new ARR (360,000 / 3,600,000) |
| Rate above quota | 15% of new ARR (1.5x) |
| Quota attainment | New ARR closed | Commission | Total annual pay | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80% | DKK 2,880,000 | DKK 288,000 | DKK 828,000 | DKK 69,000 |
| 100% | DKK 3,600,000 | DKK 360,000 | DKK 900,000 | DKK 75,000 |
| 120% | DKK 4,320,000 | DKK 468,000 | DKK 1,008,000 | DKK 84,000 |
At 120%, the AE earns 10% on the first DKK 3.6 million (DKK 360,000) and 15% on the last DKK 720,000 (DKK 108,000). Annual pay ends up DKK 108,000 above OTE. At 80%, it is DKK 72,000 below. The amounts exclude pension.
Even without pension, the example at 100% sits slightly above the median for ICT sales (about DKK 73,700 a month), which includes pension. An AE on the same plan at a company that doesn't sell IT would sit high in the distribution for sales representatives.
What affects AE pay?
- What is sold: ICT sales averaged about DKK 20,400 a month more than commercial sales representatives in 2025 (DKK 79,337 vs 58,892).
- Segment: Enterprise AEs work larger deals with longer sales cycles and usually get a higher base than AEs selling to small businesses.
- Quota attainment: With commission and accelerators, a good or bad year moves pay more than seniority does.
- Region: According to Danmarks Statistik, employees in the Capital Region generally earned more than in other regions in 2025 (LONS30). There are no regional figures for sales roles alone.
- Plan rules: Commission caps, clawback periods and when commission counts as earned can matter more for actual pay than the rate itself.
How Prowi helps
Prowi calculates AE commission live from CRM data, such as HubSpot, Pipedrive or Salesforce, with accelerators and clawbacks set up as rules in the plan. AEs follow their earnings and the distance to the next tier in the app, and you send one approved file to payroll. Book a demo to see it on your own plan.
FAQ
What is the average account executive salary in Denmark?
AEs in IT and SaaS sales earned a median of about DKK 73,700 a month and an average of DKK 79,337 in 2025, including pension and bonus (Danmarks Statistik, DISCO 2434). AEs outside IT earn less. The average for commercial sales representatives was DKK 58,892.
What is a normal OTE for an account executive?
There are no official Danish OTE figures. The Bridge Group puts median AE OTE at USD 200,000 in 2026, mainly in the US. Danmarks Statistik's figures show actual pay and are the best Danish reference point.
How much commission does an account executive get?
The rate is usually variable pay at 100% divided by quota. Many SaaS plans land around 10% of new ARR or ACV, often with a higher rate above quota. With DKK 360,000 in variable pay and a DKK 3.6 million quota, the rate is 10%.
What is the base salary for an AE?
The Bridge Group measured a median of 53% base pay for AEs in 2024, mostly in the US. Danish companies often use a larger fixed share. With an OTE of DKK 900,000 and a 60/40 pay mix, base salary is DKK 540,000 a year, or DKK 45,000 a month.
Is a sales executive the same as an account executive?
In Denmark, sales executive is often another title for the same job: a rep who closes their own deals. Pay depends more on industry and plan than on the title. ICT sales averaged DKK 79,337 a month in 2025, commercial sales representatives DKK 58,892.
Sources
- Danmarks Statistik, StatBank table LONS20, standardized monthly earnings by occupation (DISCO 2433, 2434, 3322 and all employees), 2025. statistikbanken.dk/LONS20
- Danmarks Statistik, definition of standardized monthly earnings. dst.dk
- Danmarks Statistik, StatBank table LONS30, earnings by region, 2025. statistikbanken.dk/LONS30
- The Bridge Group, 2024 AE Metrics & Compensation Benchmark. bridgegroupinc.com
- The Bridge Group, 2026 AE Models, Motions & Metrics. bridgegroupinc.com