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. Many companies mix these 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.