Answers · First hire
What startups pay a founding account executive
The numbers
These are the 13 startups on our First Sales Hire Tracker for the week of October 19, 2026, each posting checked by hand on October 18, 2026. Each company name links to its job posting.
| Company | Role | Pay as posted | Equity | Deal size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clueso | Founding Account Executive | Not stated | Not stated | $20K to $50K+ ACV |
| VectorShift | Founding Account Executive, Financial Services | $100K to $160K | 0.10% to 0.30% | Not stated |
| Aerovy | Account Executive (Founding) | $275K to $300K OTE | Yes | Not stated |
| CopyCat AI | Founding Account Executive | $65K to $85K base plus commission ($100K to $170K listed) | 0.30% to 1.00% | Not stated |
| Clicks Health | Founding Field Sales Rep | $100K to $140K | 0.10% to 0.30% | Not stated |
| Lantern | Founding Account Executive | $150K base, $300K OTE | Yes | Not stated |
| Luthor | Founding Account Executive | $100K to $160K | 0.10% to 0.75% | Not stated |
| Clark | Founding Account Executive | $60K to $250K | Not stated | Not stated |
| MadeThis | Founding Account Executive | $150K to $300K | 0.10% to 1.00% | Not stated |
| Rulebase | Founding GTM Lead | $120K to $150K base, $240K to $300K OTE | 0.5% to 1.0% | $50K to $120K+ ACV |
| Roboto AI | Founding Account Executive | $150K to $175K base plus bonus | Yes | Not stated |
| Closure | Founding Business Development / Account Executive | $90K to $150K base | Yes | Not stated |
| Arch | Founding Account Executive | Not stated | Yes | Not stated |
What the numbers say
On-target earnings. 3 postings state on-target earnings: Rulebase, Aerovy and Lantern. The range is $240K to $300K. The midpoints are $270K, $287.5K and $300K.
Base pay. 5 postings state base pay separately: $65K to $85K (CopyCat AI), $90K to $150K (Closure), $120K to $150K (Rulebase), $150K (Lantern) and $150K to $175K (Roboto AI).
Equity. 11 of 13 mention equity. The 6 that give a range run from 0.10% to 1.00%.
The deal decides the seller. CopyCat AI pays the lowest base for one or two call closes with small insurance agencies. Rulebase pays $240K to $300K on-target for $50K to $120K+ deals with fintechs, and Lantern pays $300K on-target for conference-floor selling to large distributors.
Where. 5 allow or will consider remote work in the US. The other 8 name a city, and 6 of those 8 are in San Francisco or New York.
Who they report to. Aerovy and Rulebase say the hire reports to the CEO.
How long the jobs stay open. 4 of the 13 postings have been up for three months or longer. Arch posted its role on May 15 and Roboto AI on June 23.
If you're about to post this job, the pay is the easy part. Read when to hire your first AE first, then check when the hire pays back with the payback calculator.
Common follow-ups
How much does a founding account executive make?
In 13 first sales job postings from US startups checked in the week of October 19, 2026, the 3 that stated on-target earnings ranged from $240K to $300K. Stated base pay ran from $65K to $175K.
Do founding AEs get equity?
Usually. 11 of the 13 postings mention equity. The 6 that give a range run from 0.10% to 1.00%.
Why is founding AE pay so different from one startup to the next?
The deal decides the seller. The lowest base pay here is for one or two call closes with small insurance agencies. The highest on-target pay is for $50K to $120K+ deals with fintechs and for in-person selling to large distributors and industrial hardware makers.
Is a founding AE the same as a first Head of Sales?
No. 11 of 13 postings use a founding AE title. None of them is hiring a first Head of Sales. Rulebase calls its role a Founding GTM Lead, and Clicks Health wants a founding field sales rep who feeds the AE and writes the playbook.
Where can I see current founding AE jobs?
The First Sales Hire Tracker lists US startups that posted their first sales job, with pay and what the posting asks for.