US salary · Fully loaded · Offshore comparison
How Much Does an SDR Cost? US Fully Loaded vs. Offshore
A US sales development representative costs about $9,500 a month once benefits and payroll taxes are added — before tools and manager time. An experienced offshore SDR through Talentige typically earns $1,300–$1,900 a month, works your hours and only for you. Here’s the full math.
- Shortlist in 5–8 days
- Hire in 1–2 weeks
- 81% still on the team after 12 months
- Pay nothing until you hire
≈ $9,500US SDR / month, fully loaded
$1.3–1.9kOffshore SDR / month (typical)
72%Typical savings vs. a US hire
1–2 weeksTime to hire
What a US SDR costs today
Two public sources put US cash pay in a tight band. The Bridge Group 2025 survey of 351 B2B companies found a median SDR OTE of $80,000 ($55,000 base + $25,000 variable). RepVue October 2026 live data (8,205+ verified submissions) puts the median at $60,000 base / $89,000 OTE. We use the Bridge Group $80,000 figure as the conservative planning number below, and note RepVue as the live market check.
“Most founders assume a sales hire means $80K+ a year. Our clients hire experienced SDRs in Morocco, Argentina or Mexico for $1,300–1,900 a month, working US hours, and they’re usually booking meetings within 2 weeks. The real cost isn’t the salary, it’s hiring the wrong person, so we test every candidate on live cold calls before they’re shortlisted.”Jesse Wright, Co-Founder, Talentige
From OTE to fully loaded
Cash pay is not the employer cost. The BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026 shows that for private-industry workers, wages averaged $32.82 and accounted for 70.0% of total compensation; benefits were $14.07 (30.0%). Applying that ratio to an $80,000 OTE gives about $114,000/year, or $9,500/month, before tools, recruiting and manager allocation.
What an SDR costs per month
See the data as a table
| Line | Monthly (USD) | How it’s calculated |
|---|---|---|
| US SDR base salary | About $4,600 | $55,000 ÷ 12 (Bridge Group 2025) |
| US SDR on-target earnings | About $6,700 | $80,000 ÷ 12 |
| US SDR fully loaded | About $9,500 | $80,000 ÷ 0.70 ÷ 12 (BLS ECEC) |
| Offshore SDR through Talentige | $1,200–$2,000 | Typical pay by market, contractor, no foreign payroll taxes |
Line by line
| Cost line (monthly) | US in-house SDR | Offshore SDR via Talentige |
|---|---|---|
| Base pay | About $4,600 | $1,200–$2,000 base; commission optional |
| Variable pay at target | About $2,100 | |
| Benefits and payroll taxes | About $2,900 | None (contractor; no foreign payroll) |
| CRM, dialer, data | Same | Same |
| Coaching time | Same | Same |
| Recruiting | Your time or an agency fee | One-time fee by role; pay nothing until you hire |
| Compensation total | About $9,500 | $1,200–$2,000 |
Cost by market
| Market | Typical monthly pay |
|---|---|
| Mexico | $1,300–$1,900 |
| Colombia | $1,300–$1,900 |
| Brazil | $1,400–$2,000 |
| Argentina | $1,300–$1,900 |
| Morocco | $1,300–$1,700 |
| South Africa | $1,400–$2,000 |
| Egypt | $1,200–$1,800 |
| Philippines | $1,200–$1,800 |
For a deeper offshore-only breakdown see offshore SDR cost. Compare languages and time zones in offshore SDRs by country, or model other roles in the overseas hiring cost calculator.
Where the savings don’t come from
An offshore SDR is cheaper because of local pay levels, not because you cut corners. Keep the same tools, the same weekly call reviews and the same 90-day ramp plan you would give a local hire (the Bridge Group’s 2025 average ramp was 3.0 months). See in-house vs. offshore SDRs for the non-cost trade-offs.
Four ways to pay for SDR capacity
Most “SDR cost” quotes compare different things. Before you compare numbers, check which model you’re being quoted:
| Model | How you pay | What you get | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-house US hire | Salary, commission, benefits, payroll taxes | A full-time employee you fully control | About $9,500 a month fully loaded, plus recruiting and ramp |
| Managed SDR agency | A monthly retainer, often with a setup fee | An outsourced program: their reps, their tools, their reporting | Reps may be shared across clients; you rent the pipeline rather than build a team |
| Pay per meeting | A fee per booked or held meeting | Meetings without managing anyone | Quality incentives: meetings booked are not meetings that convert |
| Direct offshore hire via Talentige | The SDR’s monthly pay ($1,200–$2,000) plus a one-time placement fee | A full-time SDR who works only for you, in your CRM and under your sales leader | You provide tools, list and coaching, the same as for a local hire |
Cost per meeting: a worked example
Using the Bridge Group’s 2025 median quota of 10 initial meetings held per month as a common yardstick (our arithmetic, compensation only):
| Monthly compensation | At 10 meetings held a month | |
|---|---|---|
| US SDR, fully loaded | About $9,500 | About $950 per meeting |
| Offshore SDR via Talentige | $1,200–$2,000 | About $120–$200 per meeting |
Your real number depends on ramp, deal size and qualification. Tools and coaching time cost the same in both cases, so they don’t change the gap. Expect fewer meetings in the first 90 days either way: the Bridge Group’s 2025 average ramp was 3.0 months.
Budget the whole first year, month by month
| Line | Months 1–3 (ramp) | Months 4–12 |
|---|---|---|
| SDR pay | $1,200–$2,000 | $1,200–$2,000 |
| Commission (optional, recommended) | Small or guaranteed while ramping | Tied to meetings held |
| Tools: CRM seat, sequencer, data, dialer | Same as a local hire | Same as a local hire |
| Your coaching time | Daily call reviews | Weekly call review and one-to-one |
| Talentige placement fee | One-time, by role; pay nothing until you hire | — |
| Foreign payroll, benefits, employer taxes | None (contractor) | None (contractor) |
Setting commission for an offshore SDR
US SDR pay is split roughly 68:32 between base and variable at the median (Bridge Group 2025: $55,000 base, $25,000 variable). You don’t need to copy that split, but some variable pay keeps the focus on outcomes. Practical rules:
- Pay on meetings held or accepted by an account executive, not meetings booked.
- Offer a guaranteed or reduced target during the first 60 days of ramp.
- Pay monthly, in the same currency as base pay, and keep the plan to one page.
Days 1–30Learn and certifyProduct, ICP, messaging and tools; pitch certified; first live outreach on one segment.
Days 31–60Full cadenceDaily call reviews, weekly one-to-one; first meetings held every week.
Days 61–90Build to quotaFull list or territory; meetings accepted by AEs. Average ramp: 3.0 months (Bridge Group 2025).
Tools: the same stack as any SDR
| Tool type | Common examples | What your SDR needs |
|---|---|---|
| CRM | HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive | A named seat; log every touch and next step the same day |
| Sequencing | Outreach, Salesloft, Apollo, HubSpot Sequences | Access to approved sequences and templates |
| Data and enrichment | Apollo, ZoomInfo, LinkedIn Sales Navigator | A defined list or the right to build one inside your ICP |
| Dialer | Aircall, JustCall, Orum, a dialer built into your sequencer | US (or local) caller IDs and call recording for coaching |
| Calendar booking | Calendly, HubSpot Meetings, Chili Piper | Links for each account executive |
| Communication | Slack or Teams, Zoom or Google Meet | The same channels as the rest of your sales team |
Tool costs are identical whether your SDR is in Chicago or Bogotá, so leave them out of the comparison or add the same figure to both sides.
How we keep the hire low-risk
- Intake callWe define the role, buyers, calling languages, shift, quota model and budget, then recommend a market.
- SourcingOur recruiters approach candidates with real outbound or appointment-setting experience in that market.
- Language testsWritten and oral English, plus Spanish, Portuguese or French when your SDR will call in it.
- Communication testsWritten and spoken: a short outreach sequence to a real account and a clarity check under time pressure.
- Live cold-call role playStandard objections (“just send me an email”, “we already have a provider”, “no budget”), run twice with feedback in between to test coachability.
- ScoringEvery finalist is scored on our weighted SDR rubric; you see the scores and notes.
- Your interviewsYou meet 3–5 finalists, about 14 days after intake, and choose.
- Background check, contract, startWe run the check, set up the contractor agreement, international payment and Hubstaff time tracking. A 90-day replacement guarantee applies.
Hidden costs to check in any SDR quote
- Setup or onboarding fees, and whether tools and data are included.
- Whether the rep is dedicated to you or shared across clients.
- Minimum contract length and notice period.
- Who owns the contacts, sequences and call recordings when you stop.
- What happens if the person leaves: is there a replacement guarantee? Ours is 90 days.
Put the savings into more pipeline
Tell us your quota and calling hours. We’ll show what a realistic SDR hire costs in the right market.
Book a free hiring call →Pay nothing until you hire · Shortlist in 5–8 days · Hire in 1–2 weeks · 90-day replacement guarantee
Questions about SDR cost
How much does an offshore SDR cost?
Typical full-time pay through Talentige is $1,200–$2,000 a month depending on the market: $1,300–$1,900 in Mexico, Colombia and Argentina, $1,300–$1,700 for SDRs in Morocco, $1,400–$2,000 in Brazil and South Africa, and $1,200–$1,800 in the Philippines and Egypt. Add any commission you choose and our one-time placement fee, which depends on the role. You pay nothing until you hire.
How much does a US SDR cost per month?
The Bridge Group’s 2025 median on-target earnings for an SDR were $80,000 a year, about $6,700 a month. With benefits and payroll costs (wages are 70.0% of total compensation, BLS), that is about $9,500 a month, before recruiting, tools and management time.
How much can I save with an offshore SDR?
On those figures, roughly $7,500–$8,300 a month per SDR in compensation, before our placement fee. Tools and coaching time cost the same either way. It’s an estimate on national averages; your numbers depend on your current pay plan.
Are there hidden costs with an offshore SDR?
Your SDR is an independent contractor, so there are no foreign payroll or employment taxes and no US-style benefits on top of their pay. Budget for the same things any SDR needs: CRM seat, dialer, data and a weekly coaching slot.
Should I pay my offshore SDR commission?
We recommend it. A base plus a variable component tied to meetings held keeps the incentive aligned with your closers. We help you set a fair split on the call.
What does Talentige charge?
Our fee depends on the role, with no retainer by default, and you pay nothing until you hire. See pricing for details.
Is a managed SDR agency cheaper than hiring an offshore SDR?
Usually not per seat. An agency bundles reps, tools and management into a retainer, and reps may be shared. A direct offshore hire through Talentige costs the SDR’s pay ($1,200–$2,000 a month) plus a one-time fee, and the SDR works only for you.
How much commission should an offshore SDR earn?
There’s no fixed rule. Many teams keep most of the pay as base and add a variable component tied to meetings held. The US median split is about 68:32 (Bridge Group 2025); we help you set a fair plan for the market.
What is the cost per meeting for an offshore SDR?
As an illustration, at the Bridge Group’s median of 10 meetings held per month, $1,200–$2,000 of monthly pay works out to about $120–$200 per meeting, against about $950 for a fully loaded US SDR. Your figures will depend on ramp and qualification.
Do I pay anything before I hire?
No. You pay nothing until you hire. Our fee depends on the role, with no retainer by default.
Related SDR guides
Hire a remote SDR →How much does an SDR cost →Offshore SDRs by country →In-house vs. offshore SDR →SDR interview questions →SDRs for SaaS →
Sources
- The Bridge Group, SDR Models, Motions & Metrics: 2025 Research Report, February 6, 2025 (351 B2B companies): median SDR on-target earnings $80,000 ($55,000 base + $25,000 variable), average ramp 3.0 months, median 10 initial meetings held per month, median annual attrition 40%. bridgegroupinc.com
- RepVue, Sales Development Representative Salary, as of October 2026 (8,205+ verified submissions): median base $60,000; median on-target earnings $89,000. repvue.com
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation – June 2026 (released September 9, 2026): private-industry wages 70.0% of total compensation cost. bls.gov
- Talentige placement data (October 2026): 1,750 hires for 483 clients since 2015 across 60+ roles; shortlist in 5–8 days; hire in 1–2 weeks; vetting about 14 days; 90-day replacement guarantee; clients typically save 72% vs. a US hire; 81% of placements still on the team after 12 months; typical monthly SDR pay $1,300–$1,900 (band varies by market); every SDR candidate tested on live cold calls before shortlist; bilingual English & French / English & Spanish; payroll supported in all countries; direct hire or managed monthly.
- FTC, Complying with the Telemarketing Sales Rule and CAN-SPAM Act: A Compliance Guide for Business; FCC, TCPA rules; CRTC, CASL FAQ; UK ICO, PECR B2B marketing; CNIL, B2B email prospecting. ftc.gov · fcc.gov · crtc.gc.ca · ico.org.uk · cnil.fr