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Sales Development Representative Jobs in Ames, IA

The Sales Development Representative is a hunter at heart, and often Workiva's first contact with a prospect organization. Are you an expert at outbound prospecting and cold calls? The SDR possesses ...

Emphasize a team approach in regards to expanding product line and same store sales with your fellow Business Development Representative and Customer Service Representative within your region

Emphasize a team approach in regards to expanding product line and same store sales with your fellow Business Development Representative and Customer Service Representative within your region

... sales with your fellow Business Development Representative and Customer Service Representative within your region Coordinate efforts with Customer Service Representative to create auto-ship and ...

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Sales Development Representative information

See Ames, IA salary details

$27.9K

$53.8K

$87.1K

How much do sales development representative jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for sales development representative in Ames, IA is $53,845.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41,100.00 and $59,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a sales development representative?

Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) are professionals responsible for identifying and qualifying potential customers for a company’s products or services. They focus on outbound prospecting, engaging with leads through calls, emails, and social media, and setting up meetings or appointments for the sales team. SDRs play a crucial role in building the sales pipeline by generating and nurturing leads before passing them to account executives or senior sales staff. Their efforts help increase the efficiency and productivity of the overall sales process.

What does a sales development representative do?

Sales development representatives seek sales leads through marketing on social media, email, and phone calls. As a sales development representative, you determine if a sales lead has a good chance of purchasing the product or service you are marketing before sending that lead to a sales closer. This process allows salespeople to focus on closing the deal instead of prospecting. You speak with main buyers at companies or with prospective buyers who contact you after seeing your marketing materials, and you discuss their needs to see if your product is a good fit for their overall goals. Many sales development reps have a degree in business, marketing, or a related field. Others enter the role without formal education but with several years of experience in sales or marketing.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a sales development representative, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Sales Development Representative, you need strong communication, prospecting, and lead qualification skills, typically supported by a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with CRM systems like Salesforce, email outreach tools, and sales enablement platforms is usually required. Persistence, active listening, and resilience are standout soft skills in this role. These abilities are essential for effectively identifying prospects, nurturing leads, and driving revenue growth in a competitive sales environment.

What are some common challenges sales development representatives face when qualifying leads, and how can they overcome them?

Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) often encounter challenges such as reaching decision-makers, handling objections, and distinguishing qualified prospects from uninterested contacts. To overcome these hurdles, successful SDRs use targeted research to personalize outreach, employ effective questioning to identify pain points, and listen actively to address concerns. Regular collaboration with account executives and marketing teams also helps refine lead qualification criteria, ensuring SDRs focus their efforts on the most promising opportunities.

What is the difference between Sales Development Representative vs Business Development Representative?

AspectSales Development RepresentativeBusiness Development Representative
Primary FocusGenerating qualified leads and setting appointmentsBuilding strategic partnerships and expanding market opportunities
Work EnvironmentInside sales, cold calling, email outreachNetworking, strategic meetings, market research
Required CredentialsTypically high school diploma or equivalent; sales trainingSimilar credentials; often with additional business or marketing knowledge

While both roles involve outreach and lead generation, Sales Development Representatives focus on qualifying leads and scheduling sales meetings, whereas Business Development Representatives work on creating strategic partnerships and expanding business opportunities. The roles often overlap but serve different stages of the sales and growth process.

Do sales development representatives make good money?

Sales development representatives (SDRs) typically earn a base salary plus commissions or bonuses based on their performance, with total compensation often ranging from $40,000 to $70,000 annually. Experienced SDRs or those working in high-demand industries can earn higher incomes, especially with strong sales skills and effective use of customer relationship management (CRM) tools.

Is a sales development representative an entry level role?

Yes, a sales development representative (SDR) is typically an entry-level position in sales. It often requires strong communication skills, basic knowledge of sales tools like CRM software, and is a common starting point for careers in sales or business development.

What are the most commonly searched types of Sales Development Representative jobs in Ames, IA?

The most popular types of Sales Development Representative jobs in Ames, IA are:

What cities near Ames, IA are hiring for Sales Development Representative jobs?

Cities near Ames, IA with the most Sales Development Representative job openings:

Infographic showing various Sales Development Representative job openings in Ames, IA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,818 per year, or $25.9 per hour.

Sales Development Representative

Workiva, Inc.

Ames, IA • On-site

Other

Retirement

Re-posted 27 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Partner closely with Account Executives to develop ongoing engagement strategies with assigned customer and prospect accounts to drive revenue goals

  • Prospect into target accounts via high-volume cold-calling, outbound prospecting, networking, email, e-marketing, campaigns, and social outreach

  • Qualify leads/contacts based on defined criteria to transition meaningful sales leads into the pipeline


Workiva rating

9.9

Company rating: 9.9 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

1st of 247 rated software companies


Job description

The Sales Development Representative is a hunter at heart, and often Workiva's first contact with a prospect organization. Are you an expert at outbound prospecting and cold calls? The SDR possesses the ability to quickly develop a rapport with decision makers at an executive level and efficiently sparks the curiosity that generates interest in our Workiva Platform. As a rapidly growing SaaS company with high-performance teams and a collaborative culture where employee innovation and ideas are encouraged, this position is vital to Workiva's success. In this position, the TDR partners closely with a team of Account Executives to drive pipeline for expansions in existing customer accounts.

What You'll Do

  • Partner closely with Account Executives to develop ongoing engagement strategy with assigned customer and prospect accounts to drive revenue goals

  • Provide baseline research and intelligence within target accounts to identify key contacts and critical account information

  • Prospect into target accounts via high-volume cold-calling (60-80 calls/day), outbound prospecting, networking, email, e-marketing, campaigns, and social outreach

  • Qualify leads/contacts based upon specifically defined criteria to transition meaningful sales leads into the pipeline

  • Learn and demonstrate a fundamental understanding of Workiva's Platform, and clearly articulate its capabilities and advantages to decision makers

  • Contribute to critical functions associated with fulfilling the sales cycle (forecasting, reporting, CRM maintenance, correspondence, and communications)

  • Drive attendance to various events (webinars, roadshows, Amplify, conferences, etc.), and provide post-event follow-up

  • Develop and maintain a current understanding of Workiva's latest product offerings, and competitive product/ market knowledge

What You'll Need


Minimum Qualifications

  • Requires an Associate's degree and a minimum of 3 years of related experience

Preferred Qualifications

  • Successful experience in a similar role- preferably lead generation/sales development preferred.

  • Salesforce CRM experience strongly preferred

  • Proven track record of creating revenue-generating opportunities and quota attainment

  • Proven ability to understand and successfully promote technical offerings and solution sets

  • Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills with a professional demeanor

  • Self-motivated with strong propensity for action, results, and continuous improvement

  • Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to multitask and manage multiple processes, programs, and procedures simultaneously while working under pressure to meet deadlines

Travel Requirements & Working Conditions

  • Up to 10% travel

  • Reliable internet access for any period of time working remotely, not in a Workiva office

How You'll Be Rewarded

On Target Earnings (OTE) range in the US: 76,000.00 - 114,000.00 USD Annual

Eligible for commission based on sales performance

Restricted Stock Units granted at time of hire

401(k) match and comprehensive employee benefits package

The salary range represents the low and high end of the salary range for this job in the US. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience and other relevant factors.

Why Join Workiva

Workiva is the platform designed to bring confidence, control, and a competitive edge to the world's most complex organizations. Our AI-powered platform unifies finance, risk, and sustainability on a single, secure foundation-ensuring data is trusted, traceable, and ready to act on. With an unbroken path from source to output, leaders gain confidence in their numbers, visibility into current and emerging risks, and the ability to move with speed and precision in a constantly changing world.

At Workiva, you'll bring technology to market that executives, boards, and regulators depend on. The work you do here helps organizations navigate uncertainty, maintain trust, and make decisions that stand up to scrutiny. If you're energized by meaningful challenges, inspired by collaborative teams, and motivated to help organizations turn uncertainty into advantage, we'd love to meet you.

Employment decisions are made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other protected characteristic.

Workiva is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. To request assistance with the application process, please email talentacquisition@workiva.com.

Workiva employees are required to undergo comprehensive security and privacy training tailored to their roles, ensuring adherence to company policies and regulatory standards.

Workiva supports employees in working where they work best - either from an office or remotely from any location within their country of employment.

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