How sales commission calculators work
A commission calculator turns your plan rules into a clear dollar number. Most plans start with a simple formula: commission = sales × rate. Real-world plans often add tiers, accelerators above quota, SPIFFs, residuals, and a base salary that combines into OTE (on-target earnings).
Use these free tools to estimate take-home variable pay, compare job offers, or sanity-check a plan before you accept a quota. Nothing is stored on a server — all math runs locally in your browser.
When to use each tool
- Simple — flat rate on revenue or margin (common for small teams).
- Tiered — rates that rise as you sell more (or fall after a band). Guide →
- OTE — total target cash if you hit 100% of goal. Guide →
- Quota — progress to goal and linear commission estimate.
- Pay mix — compare two offers at your expected attainment.
- SPIFF — short-term contest bonuses on top of regular commission. Guide →
- Residual — recurring MRR commission over many months. Guide →
- Accelerator — higher rate or multiplier once you clear quota. Guide →
- AE / SE split — divide one deal’s pool across AE, SE, and others. Guide →
Common commission plan types
- Flat rate — one percentage on eligible sales. Easy to understand, less flexible.
- Tiered — higher rates as volume crosses bands.
- Quota + accelerator — standard rate to 100%, then a boost on overage (very common in SaaS AE roles).
- Residual — ongoing % of recurring revenue.
- Mixed plans — many companies combine the above with SPIFFs for short campaigns.
How to compare two sales job offers
- Write base, OTE, and quota for each offer.
- Open the Pay mix tab and test 70%, 100%, and 120% attainment.
- Ask whether commission is on bookings, revenue, or margin.
- Check for accelerators, clawbacks, and team split rules.
- Only then decide if the higher OTE is real or just a bigger variable promise.
Tips for reading a commission plan
- Confirm whether rate applies to revenue, gross margin, or bookings.
- Ask what happens at 80%, 100%, and 120% of quota (accelerators matter).
- Check clawbacks, multi-year deals, and team vs individual credit.
- Model a bad quarter (70%) and a good year (120%) before signing.
- Get SPIFF and residual rules in writing — verbal promises fade.
Deep-dive guides
- What is OTE? Calculator + offer tips
- Commission accelerators explained
- Tiered commission bands
- SPIFF bonuses vs commission
- Residual / MRR commission
- AE / SE deal splits
- Commission structures by role (SDR, AE, SE, CSM)
Who uses this worldwide
- Account executives & SDRs modeling offers and quota attainment
- Sales leaders designing tiered plans, accelerators, and AE/SE splits
- Recruiters & candidates comparing OTE and pay mix across countries
- Finance / RevOps sanity-checking residual and SPIFF programs
Popular searches this suite covers
- Free sales commission calculator online
- OTE calculator / on-target earnings calculator
- Tiered commission calculator by sales band
- SPIFF calculator and residual (MRR) commission
- Salary vs commission pay mix comparison
- AE / SE deal split calculator
FAQ
What is a good commission rate for sales?
It depends on deal size, sales cycle, and base salary. High-volume / low-touch roles often use lower rates; enterprise AE roles often use larger variable with 40/60 or 50/50 pay mix. Compare OTE and realistic attainment, not rate alone — in any currency or country.
What does OTE mean?
OTE means on-target earnings: base salary plus the variable pay you would earn if you hit 100% of quota. It is a target, not a guarantee.
Is this commission calculator free?
Yes. Use it without creating an account. You can bookmark this page and reuse it for offer comparisons anytime, anywhere.
Can I use this outside the US?
Yes. Switch the display currency (40+ currencies worldwide) to match your offer. Labels only — amounts are not FX-converted.
Do you store my salary or sales numbers?
No. Calculations run in your browser only. Refreshing the page clears inputs unless your browser autofills them.
Can I use this for residual or recurring commission?
Yes — open the Residual tab. Enter your MRR book, rate, months, optional churn, and new MRR each month to project total payouts.
What is a SPIFF in sales?
A SPIFF (or spiff) is a short-term incentive — extra cash per unit, a percent of deal value, or a contest pot — paid on top of your normal commission plan to push a product, promo, or end-of-quarter push.
How do I calculate OTE from base and variable?
OTE (on-target earnings) is usually base salary plus on-target commission or bonus. Enter base and target variable; the tools estimate total OTE and pay mix.
Does this connect to Salesforce or my payroll?
No. It is a static educational calculator. Export or copy results into your own plan; nothing is synced to CRM or payroll.
What is SPIFF in a commission plan?
A SPIFF is a short-term extra incentive on top of normal commission, often for a product push or contest period. Model it as a bonus percent or flat amount in the SPIFF tools.
Can I model accelerators after quota?
Yes. Use tiered or accelerator-style inputs so earnings rise faster once attainment crosses a threshold. Adjust tiers to match your plan document.
How is quota attainment used in commission math?
Attainment is usually closed sales divided by quota for the period. Many plans pay a higher rate once attainment crosses 100%. Enter your attainment or sales vs quota so tiers can accelerate correctly.
Can I split commission between an AE and SE?
Yes. Use the split tools to assign percents of the deal commission to each role. Totals should still add up to the plan’s pool so finance and reps see the same number.