SDR Salary in Spain: Real Wages by Experience Level

An SDR in Spain typically earns a base salary between €16,000 and €22,000 gross per year when starting out, plus a performance-based commission that can add several thousand euros more. With experience and in sectors like software or B2B sales, the total can reach or exceed €30,000 gross annually. The exact figure depends on three things: your experience, your company's sector, and the city where you work.

If you're considering this path or just entering the sales world, here are the real numbers, how they break down between base and commission, and what you can do to increase your salary faster.

What is an SDR and why they earn what they do

An SDR (sales development representative) is responsible for contacting potential customers, determining if they have genuine interest, and getting a meeting on a sales rep's or closer's calendar. They don't close deals, but their work is essential for the sales team to have people to talk to. That's why their salary is closely tied to measurable results: number of calls, meetings scheduled, meetings that actually happen.

If you're new to sales and aren't sure what the day-to-day looks like or how to get started without experience, this article on how to become an SDR with no prior experience clarifies the starting point before we talk numbers.

Base salary: what you earn each month guaranteed

An SDR's base salary in Spain varies quite a bit depending on company size and whether you work at a startup, consulting firm, or traditional industrial company:

• SDR with no experience or newly hired: between €16,000 and €19,000 gross annually in base salary.
• SDR with one or two years of experience: between €19,000 and €23,000 gross annually in base salary.
• Senior SDR or at software companies (SaaS): base salary can reach €24,000–€26,000, sometimes more if the company is international.

This base is what hits your account even if a month goes poorly. It's the part that gives you peace of mind to cover fixed expenses while you build momentum.

Commission: the part that depends on you

Almost no SDR position in Spain is base salary only. The standard is a monthly or quarterly commission tied to metrics like:

• Number of meetings scheduled with qualified prospects.
• Meetings that actually take place (not just scheduled).
• Opportunities that advance to proposal or closing stage.

This commission typically adds 15% to 30% on top of base salary when targets are met, though at companies with more aggressive commission structures it can be higher. In other words, an SDR with a €19,000 base who hits targets well can end the year with €23,000–€25,000 gross total.

This means two people in the same role with the same base can have very different annual salaries depending on their consistency and phone objection handling skills. If you want to strengthen that side, it helps to review how to overcome price objections in sales—even though a closer closes the deal, SDRs also encounter doubts and hesitations when scheduling.

Differences by city

In Madrid and Barcelona, where there are more tech company headquarters and startups, SDR salaries tend to be at the higher end of the ranges above, because cost of living is higher and competition for talent is too. In cities like Valencia, Seville, Málaga, or Zaragoza, the base can be somewhat lower, but cost of living is also lower, so the net salary you take home at the end of the month isn't always that different.

If you're looking for an SDR job in your city and want to prepare with something tailored to your local market, you can check out the online sales course in Madrid or search directly for your city, since many companies hiring SDRs work hybrid remote and knowing the local business landscape helps guide your search.

Sector: why software pays more

An SDR's salary isn't the same across all sectors. Software companies (SaaS), especially those selling to other businesses (B2B), typically pay better because the value of each closed customer is high and they can afford to invest more in the sales team. In sectors like insurance, training, or more traditional services, the base is often lower but sometimes the commission is easier to reach.

Before accepting an offer, it's worth asking in the interview how the commission is calculated, how often it's paid, and what percentage of the SDR team actually earns the full amount. It's a completely reasonable question and says a lot about the company. If you want to arrive prepared for that conversation, here are sales interview questions and how to answer them.

How to increase your salary as an SDR

The SDR role is usually an entry point, not a final destination. The most common ways to increase what you earn are:

1. Improve your numbers each month: more meetings scheduled and higher quality directly translates to more commission.
2. Change companies: moving to a company in a sector that pays better base salary usually gives you a faster jump than waiting for an internal raise.
3. Move to closer: the natural step up from SDR is to a sales closing role, where commission is usually much higher because you're the one deciding the close, not just scheduling. You can see what that path looks like in how to work as a sales closer from scratch.
4. Specialize: mastering a specific sector (technology, healthcare, finance) makes you more valuable and lets you negotiate better base when changing companies.

If your ultimate goal is to earn more through closing commissions, you might also want to compare prices and reviews of the sales closer course and the setter course, two different paths within the same sales career.

What usually doesn't show up in job postings

Many job listings on InfoJobs or LinkedIn publish only the base, or give a very wide range like "€18,000–€25,000 depending on merit." That means the final number is negotiated in the interview, and it's worth asking directly how much an SDR on their team typically earns in their first year, commission included. It's a legitimate question and a serious company shouldn't be uncomfortable with it.

It's also worth practicing that negotiation beforehand and answers to uncomfortable questions about salary or experience, so you don't freeze up on the day of your actual interview.

Frequently asked questions

Do SDRs in Spain earn commissions?
Yes, almost always. The standard is a base salary plus a variable tied to targets like meetings scheduled or qualified leads that reach closing stage.

Can you live on a junior SDR salary?
In most Spanish cities yes, though in Madrid or Barcelona the initial base can be tight if there's no good commission. It's worth looking at the total annual figure, not just the base.

Do SDRs earn more if they work remote?
It doesn't depend on work format, but on the company and sector. Many software companies pay the same remote as in-office.

How long does it take an SDR to move to a better-paying role?
It depends on results, but many SDRs make the jump to closer or account executive between six months and two years.

What salary should an experienced SDR ask for in an interview?
It's reasonable to give a range based on what you've seen in the market and justify it with your previous results, not a random figure.

If you want to practice how to handle this kind of conversation about salary, commission, and objections before you have it with a real recruiter, in Ventaka you can rehearse it with an AI customer as many times as you need. Bookmark this article if it's helped you get a clearer idea of what you can ask for, and tell us in the comments what salary you've been offered in your last interview.