Investment Sales vs SaaS/Industrial/IT/Automotive Sales

Hi everyone,

This question likely comes from a different background then most of the folks here, and I am not certain I'll find the right answer here, but I'd love to the get the input of you incredibly talented folks on the cre sales side. I am getting a finance degree, but my passion and experience is in professional sales. I am finishing up my undergrad and I am fortunate enough to have a number of solid opportunities in front of me. I wasn't really considering CRE, but an interesting role came across my desk with a Boutique CRE firm that specializes in NNN retail properties nationally. Please Note this is not a major HCOL metro (Detroit). OTE means on target earnings:

SaaS Sales - 45-50k Base, 75-80k OTE Industrial Sales - 50k Base, 60 - 75k OTE It Consulting Sales - 55k Base, OTE isn't sure Automotive Manufacturing - 65k Base, 80 - 85k OTE (I have to wait till I finish Undergrad for this one. I am one year out)

or

Commercial Real Estate Investment Sales - Small Salary Initially/100% commission after I get going.

The reason I have considered investment sales is because I am going to be full-force grinding 60 - 80 hours for the next 4 - 8 years, cold calling, prospecting, networking etc (All things that I absolutely love), and I want to get the highest ROI.

Of the 4 first gigs, I am leaning towards SaaS, as I can easily push 150k+ in my 3rd year, 200 - 400k+ is not unrealistic mid career (5-7 Years in).

However, from what I understand, commercial real estate can be much more lucrative, the managing directors at this firm pull 100mm + in gross sales each, which I imagine translate into 1.5 mill + in commission. One of those brokers was doing that 4 years out of college.

However, the uncertainty and extraordinarily long sales cycle of RE somewhat scares me. I don't want to burn myself out for the next 2 years and have absolutely nothing to show for it. If I don't perform (unlikely) in other gigs, at least I will still had a nice base salary to work with. I am very young though, and now is the time to take risks.

Thoughts?

1 Comments
 

Commodi magnam provident voluptatibus molestiae. Dignissimos corporis quo eum explicabo commodi.

Vitae harum nulla non iusto. Hic laboriosam temporibus aperiam quis et quos excepturi. Consequatur voluptatum qui omnis.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”