In This Blog:
- ➤The Number Contradiction: Why Are There Different BDM Salary Ranges Online?
- ➤How Much Is BDM Salary in Australia by Experience Level? (Average Base Salary Only)
- ➤Salary vs. Commission-Only vs. Hybrid: Which BDM Salary Structure Works?
- ➤How to Write a Business Development Manager Job Description: Attract the Right Candidates
- ➤How to Interview and Screen BDM Candidates
- ➤Why AU Businesses Are Structuring This Hire Remotely
- ➤FAQs
- ➤Your Next BDM Hire Is Out of Reach Only When Numbers Aren’t Clear
AU SMBs seem to be getting nowhere with phrases like “Business Development Manager Salary Australia,” or questions like “How much does a BDM cost?”
Or they’re getting nowhere close to numbers that are current (and real). Not online, anyway.
Been there?
Then you know what it’s like to open online job boards, and close them just the same: they’re not exactly clear on why this salary range is what it is for this BDM or that BDM.
We won’t even get into the different salary ranges (we’ll get to that in the sections below).
According to SEEK, job ads with a visible salary (or salary range) receive 36% more applications, on average.
When you’re in the “maybe we need a BDM” phase, salary’s not something you can “take their word for it.”
Here’s a Business Development Manager cost guide in detail, along with tips about hiring a remote BDM.
How much should a Business Development Manager be paid? (How much does a BDM earn in Australia?)
A Business Development Manager (BDM) in Australia earns at least AUD $100,000 to $125,000 per year, including base salary and, in many roles, performance-based commissions or bonuses. Entry-level BDMs typically earn less, while experienced professionals in industries like SaaS, finance, and enterprise sales can exceed AUD $150,000 in total annual earnings. Actual pay varies by experience, location, industry, and commission structure.
Why Are There Different BDM Salary Ranges Online: The Number Contradiction
Online salaries for Business Development Managers are all over the place. That’s being nice and curt about it. The confusion’s real, and it’s not that hard to see why Australian businesses shouldn’t be. Average BDM salaries in Australia are posted like so:
SEEK: $105,000–$125,000 average base
Indeed: $103,865 average
Glassdoor: $135,000 average (typical range of $104,700–$221,000; 90th percentile)
PayScale: $90,482 average (10th-to-90th percentile spread of $65,000–$139,000)
No explanation whatsoever. Don’t count on reading about why this number is different from that number when they’re all for the same role. Something this article will lift the lid on, so that you finally understand why numbers and salary ranges are the way that they are.
What is the average salary for a Business Development Manager (BDM) in Australia? (Basic Salary)
The average base salary for a Business Development Manager in Australia is around AUD $100,000 to $105,000 per year, before commissions, bonuses, or other incentives. Those with little to no BDM experience generally start on AUD $80,000–$90,000, while experienced professionals can earn AUD $120,000 or more in base pay alone.
The difference is largely because of this: some figures are base salaries. Others are the total package. Commission and bonuses, the works. Others, though they’re frequently without disclaimers, have to do with industry and industry requirements.
Business Development Management compensation structures vary so much because the role is experience, expertise, and performance-based.
There’s no single baseline, no single salary template for a Business Development Manager, remote or in-office.
What To Do: Already comparing your budget to any published average? Don’t just yet. Zoom in for any commentary or fine print about what that comprises. If they don’t have any such footnotes, hold on to those numbers loosely for now.
Related Read: Need to get back to what the role is? Here’s What is the Role of a Remote Business Development Manager?
How Much Is BDM Salary in Australia by Experience Level? (Average Base Salary Only)
We’re doing base salaries first, and by source, because most job boards bundle together base-only postings with total package figures. For this section, we’re zeroing in only on base (from SEEK, Indeed, Glassdoor, and PayScale). Add-ons of any kind, not included.
Average BDM Base Salary By Experience Comparison Table:
Where the job is based also affects salary variances. Sydney and Melbourne roles are at 6 to 10% above the national average. Brisbane’s close to the national midpoint; AUD $110,000 to 120,000 base.
What Are On-Target Earnings (OTE)? (What is Included in On-Target Earnings?)
OTE is base salary plus the commission an employee is expected to earn based on targets. It isn’t about those one-off bonuses, but is the realistic expectation of yearly earnings whenever they meet key performance indicators (KPIs).
Companies usually offer higher earning potential when they’re asking a BDM to step into something new, instead of getting hired for an established one.
What is a Fair Commission for a Business Development Manager?
Typical OTE Multipliers By Seniority:
What To Do: Budget cash flow around OTE. Do a flexible one. To give it some structure, here’s another example: a BDM hired at $100,000 base with a realistic $150,000 OTE should be planned for at $150,000. That’s the expected cost/projected cash outlay.
Something extra, here’s what you need to know about How to Calculate Outsourcing Cost in Australia, as you use our Free Outsourcing Calculator Tool below to see your own numbers:
Salary vs. Commission-Only vs. Hybrid: Which BDM Salary Structure Works?
Business Development Manager Fixed Salary (No Commission)
Weak to zero performance incentives, and a predictable cost; a fixed salary makes the most sense when the role is focused on opening conversations and building relationships. Closing deals? Not so much; leave that to the Sales Department. Lead generation, contract negotiation, and proposal development may fall within the BDM’s turf. Or they work on these with solutions consultants and senior decision-makers. Stakeholder engagement and relationship management? Those go further down the line as well, and under someone else’s responsibility.
Experienced BDMs usually lean more towards jobs where good performance can lead to higher earnings through commission.
Base Salary Plus Commission (Hybrid)
This is the most common structure for AU SMBs, especially for those hiring their first BDM. Base salary means genuine, stable employment. Commission encourages and rewards performance without the scare factor of closing every sale.
What To Do: If your BDM’s role is to find new leads and open doors, don’t base their commission only on completed sales. Reward them for finding the right customers, and not just for the final sale or deal close.
Business Development Manager Commission Structure
Compared to the first two, this is riskier than most business owners think. Legally. The Fair Work Act 2009 states that commission-only pay should still meet or exceed the national minimum wage every pay period. As of July 2026, Australia’s national minimum wage is AUD $1,004.90 per week ($26.44 per hour).
If the commission they earn during a pay period doesn’t reach that amount, the employer must make up the difference.
Comparing BDM Pay Structures Based on Incentive and Compliance:
How to Write a Business Development Manager Job Description & Attract the Right Candidates
Here’s how and what to include in a job post tailored to get on the radar of the ideal BDM candidates.
Core Sections for a BDM Job Description:
Role Purpose
Tell candidates exactly why you’re hiring and what they’ll spend most of their time doing. On the daily. About bringing in new business, less about growing partnerships that are already in the sales pipeline.
Example:
Managing our existing customer accounts isn’t part of the job. You’re responsible for finding and winning new business opportunities in the logistics business.
Target Industries or Customers
Who will they be selling to? Detail this part, and you’re more likely to get responses from candidates with relevant experience.
Example:
As our company’s BDM, you’ll represent us in reaching out to mid-sized logistics and freight companies throughout Queensland and NSW.
Salary and Commission
It’s okay to post exactly what the pay will be. AU SMBs tend to be less comfortable in doing so, worried that they’ll receive more resumes that are mismatched with what they’re looking for, simply because of a generous salary.
But follow this hiring checklist, and you’ll be able to avoid the wave of unsuitable applicants.
Example:
AUD $95,000–$110,000 annual base salary, plus commission. With an annual OTE of AUD $150,000+.
Who They’ll Work With
Describe how they’ll fit in the team by letting them know who they’ll be working with and reporting to. This one’s more than another part of the job description; be sincere with how you explain this, so that it sounds more like a genuine invitation to be a part of your workforce.
Example:
You’ll report directly to our Head of Sales. That means you’ll be in a team that values fresh ideas and celebrates wins together. We believe everyone does their best work when they feel supported, trusted, and heard.
Tools They’ll Use
List the tools they’ll be using every day. This helps candidates understand what they’re walking into and whether they’re already familiar with your systems. It narrows down candidates who are familiar with, but haven’t really used said tools extensively in previous work experiences.
Example:
HubSpot CRM for tracking leads and customer interactions
LinkedIn Sales Navigator for finding and connecting with prospects
Apollo for prospecting and contact research
Weekly pipeline updates to review new opportunities and progress
Monthly performance reviews to discuss results, goals, and areas for growth
Their First Milestone
Sales goals? They’re good to include. They can also be discussed during the interview. Remember to tell candidates what a great first 60 to 90 days will be like; just a more welcoming way of introducing expectations.
Example:
We’d love to see you feeling confident in the role and building a solid pipeline of new opportunities before your first 90 days are up. You’ll have the support you need to settle in and make a meaningful impact from the start.
What To Remember: Publish your compensation range, even a broad one, directly in the ad. Many experienced BDMs skip job ads that don’t include salary details. Either they believe the pay isn’t worth it, or that the job description goes beyond what’s in the post itself.
How to Interview and Screen BDM Candidates
Who can work for my company and bring us new business?
That’s what interview questions should lead to. It’s to narrow the list down to BDMs who have the skills and experience that align with what you need.
#1. Don’t Mistake Sales Experience for Business Development Experience (and Market Intelligence)
Sales experience is someone else’s responsibility. Interestingly, it’s a named experience in many resumes submitted for BDM job posts. But experience in working with warm inbound leads isn’t the main thing.
Cold outreach. Relationship-building, not even with “new customers” but with strangers. These are what you want from your BDM.
What To Do: Ask them to explain how the last new relationship they built with someone (or a business) who’d never heard of their company was like. How did they open the conversation, and how did they keep it going?
#2. See (Ask about) How They’d Handle the Job
You have a general overview of what the candidates say they’ve done: their resumes. Now, the more crucial point: how do they think? What approach do they take in a prospecting problem? How to break into a market they’ve never sold to before? Look for organised, logical thinking.
Illustration: Bradley owns a logistics and freight brokerage business in Brisbane. He gave every shortlisted BDM candidate a fictional target market. He asked them to explain (live and on the spot) how they’d shortlist prospects, identify decision-makers, and structure a first outreach sequence.
The exercise highlighted candidates who understood the actual mechanics of the role.
#3. Ask For Examples and Numbers
A strong BDM should be able to talk confidently about the results they’ve delivered. They don’t need to remember every detail, but they should be able to expound on opportunities they created, and the size of the deals they headed.
What To Do: By the final interview, ask whether they can share examples of their past results. No need for candidates to share confidential client names or company information.
#4. Check They Understand Your Industry’s Compliance Requirements
Does the BDM’s role involve sending cold emails and SMS? Will they be handling customer information? Ask how they’ve stayed compliant in other roles. The ideal candidate should understand the basics of the relevant Australian laws: the Spam Act 2003 and the Australian Privacy Act 1988. They should know how to apply them to day-to-day-work.
In case they haven’t worked with an Australian client before, what similar compliance requirements did they have to learn and be knowledgeable about so that their work and customer interactions followed relevant rules?
Illustration: Sienna, a Sydney-based business owner, has her own boutique wealth advisory firm at the heart of the city. Because she works with Australian clients in a highly regulated industry, she needed a BDM who understood the Spam Act and other industry-specific compliance requirements.
Why AU Businesses Are Structuring This Hire Remotely
Because most of a BDM’s day is spent researching prospects, reaching out, building relationships, and following up online or over the phone, there’s rarely a need to be in the office full-time. The very reason why AU SMBs are looking to remote professionals to fill the role.
Remote Staff has always been, and continues to be, a reliable managed provider, matching the best remote professionals with Australian businesses. For over 18 years, we’ve been vetting candidates, checking their background and expertise, and seeing to it that they’re not just the best at what they do:
We create the bridge between you and ideal candidates to meet your specific business or industry requirements, and also adapt to your team’s work culture.
You choose your engagement model, while we handle payroll, onboarding, HR, and admin work. This strategic partnership removes the compliance and structuring intricacies that would otherwise turn into budgeting complications.
We want to help you stay compliant in other areas of your business as well. Read through the Modern Slavery Australia article and Payday Super Rules Guide.
FAQs: How Much Does a Business Development Manager Get Paid
For a junior (or coming in fresh with little experience) to mid-level hire, that base is AUD $80,000 to $110,000 as of 2026 (SEEK and Indeed). If you’re hiring a senior BDM to break into a new market or industry, consider not only base, but a realistic OTE (On-Target Earnings/commission) for that experience level; AUD $200,000 and above.
You can. It’s legally possible. But every pay period or cycle should still meet the national minimum wage after commission (for local hires). If not, you (employer) need to “top up” the remainder to meet the requirements under the Fair Work Act 2009. A lot of AU SMBs follow a base plus commission formula instead. Many of them are also choosing a hybrid engagement model, if not fully remote. It’s a way to reduce compliance risk, while still genuinely wanting to reward performance.
Base salary is the guaranteed fixed amount paid on a regular payout date. It’s the amount paid regardless of performance. OTE (On-Target Earnings) is base salary plus the commission a BDM can earn if they hit their performance targets. The latter is a more realistic total pay if your business’s pay structure budgets for bonuses on top of the guaranteed rate.
Go back to your total package and compare it against the salary tables above. Feel free to go over SEEK, Glassdoor, and Indeed listings, too. Find the equivalent seniority and industry averages. A BDM earning below standard reference points is more likely to leave when they find a better, fairer salary structure elsewhere.
Extra Read: There’s so much going on in Australia’s booming sectors, and so much opportunity waiting for those who get there first— Solar Farm Lease Guide Australia, Solar Panel Disposal Cost, and Floating Solar Panels Guide Australia.
Your Next BDM Hire Is Out of Reach Only When Numbers Aren’t Clear
Remote BDM roles are available. Demand for the role is high and continues to increase. You’re ready to start hiring. But where AU SMBs are stopped in their tracks: structuring the compensation stage, after basing their numbers on general averages online.
A misaligned salary structure does a lot to hinder you from finding the right Business Development Manager. It happens as early as application submissions, when the best candidates skip your job post because you aren’t clear about how much they’ll be paid.
But getting this right isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Not when base, OTE, and structure are separated out clearly.
Let us help you structure your job post and role compensation, and plan to hire a Business Development Manager the right way. Call us or Request a Callback today.
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Vaune Everis Cura has always been a writer in the truest sense, drawn to the art both as a personal creative pursuit and as a profession. Her experience penning content across digital marketing spaces and collaborating with business owners and market shapers has broadened her craft to include strategic direction and SEO insight. Having spent years with the InterContinental Hotels Group before stepping boldly into freelancing, she understands that at the centre of it all are genuine, meaningful brand–customer relationships built on purposeful, human content.
