How much should you be paying your Grads?

How Much You Should Be Paying Your Grads 

The 2025 graduate job market is fierce and not just for grads. If you’re hiring into sales or executive search, your salary offering could be the reason you lose great talent to the competition. Graduates are more informed, more ambitious, and more vocal about pay than ever. Fall behind the benchmark, and they’ll scroll past your job post without a second glance. 

The Benchmark for Sales and Search Roles 

In London, the average base salary for graduate SDRs or researchers in executive search is now between £28,000 and £32,000. That’s just the base. With commission or bonuses, realistic OTE sits between £45,000 and £55,000. Some top firms are advertising £60K OTE for first-year SDRs, but those roles usually come with tough targets and fast-paced onboarding. 

What Grads Expect in 2025 

Today’s grads don’t just want a good salary – they want transparency. They want to know how commission works, what targets they need to hit, and when they get paid. They’re comparing offers not just by total earnings, but by culture, training, career path and flexibility. If you’re vague on pay or offer anything under £26K base in London, don’t be surprised if top candidates go elsewhere. 

What’s Driving Higher Pay? 

A few things. Inflation and cost of living. Competition from tech firms who can pay more. But also – grads are more commercially aware than they used to be. They’re asking better questions. They understand revenue. They know that if they’re generating thousands in pipeline or placing £100K execs, they should be rewarded fairly. 

If You Want to Attract Top Grads 

Pay them what they’re worth. Make your commission plan clear. Show them what success looks like in the first year. And don’t wait until they ask to talk about salary – lead with it. The best grads aren’t afraid to talk money. You shouldn’t be either. 

Final Thought 

You don’t need to be the highest-paying firm in the market – but you do need to be competitive, honest, and structured. Graduates will back themselves if they see a clear path to earning. If your offer looks like 2022, don’t expect 2025 talent to say yes.