Despite ongoing market challenges, sales departments remain among the most stable within companies. Demand for sales professionals continues to exceed the market average, and salaries are increasing by as much as 6% per year. According to Grafton Recruitment’s report “Salaries in Enterprises – Sales Department”, the most sought-after roles include sales specialists, B2B account managers, and international sales experts. Artificial intelligence is also playing an increasingly important role in their daily work.
Stable Demand for Sales Professionals
The report shows that while job postings declined in the first half of 2025 compared to last year, demand for sales positions has remained above the overall market benchmark since early 2023.
“Although demand decreased compared to last year, it remains high. Previous large-scale recruitment rounds and weaker consumer sentiment were significant factors. Encouragingly, consumer confidence improved in August, and experts expect this trend to strengthen, leading to more job opportunities for sales specialists and managers,” said Ewa Michalska, COO at Grafton Recruitment.
Sector-specific trends remain strong: demand is shaped by industry performance, e-commerce growth, supply chain fluidity, and automation. According to Grafton, the sales job demand index in Q1 2025 reached 1.08, higher than the overall job market benchmark of 0.99. Sales specialists recorded the highest demand index at 1.24, while B2B, international sales, and ESG-integrated roles also scored strongly. Conversely, demand for sales engineers dropped to 0.64.
Hunters and Farmers – Recruitment Cycles in Sales
Recruitment patterns reflect the division between “hunters” (responsible for acquiring new clients) and “farmers” (focused on maintaining existing relationships). Demand for both groups typically peaks at the end of Q4 and the start of Q1, when companies plan annual targets and budgets.
“During Q2 and Q3, demand stabilizes or slightly falls, as companies focus on executing strategy and assessing results rather than new hires,” explained Monika Piądło, Regional Manager at Grafton Recruitment.
Sales Salaries in 2025: Rising Across the Board
Wages in sales depend on experience, role, industry, and region.
- Entry-level (up to 1 year): PLN 5,300–8,500 gross per month
- 2–3 years’ experience: PLN 6,000–13,000
- 3–5 years’ experience: PLN 9,000–13,000
- 5+ years’ experience: PLN 11,000–20,000
Managers earn significantly more: team managers (PLN 11,000–20,000) and regional managers (PLN 12,000–25,000, depending on location and sector). Export managers, particularly in IT and telecom, can reach PLN 16,000–25,000 in Warsaw.
Location also matters: an export manager in Gdańsk may earn PLN 15,000–20,000, while in Katowice, the same role pays 13,000–18,000. Average salary growth across sales roles reached 4–6% in 2025, with IT, telecom, B2B, and technical industries seeing the fastest wage increases (up to 6%). FMCG and pharma averaged closer to 4%.
Artificial Intelligence in Sales – Support, Not Replacement
AI has transformed sales work: from chatbots and lead scoring to advanced CRM platforms like Salesforce. AI now handles repetitive tasks such as lead generation, data analysis, and offer preparation, freeing sales teams to focus on relationship-building and strategic advisory.
According to Salesforce data (July 2024), 83% of sales teams using AI reported revenue growth over the past year.
“AI is not replacing salespeople—it’s enhancing their efficiency. It processes vast datasets, predicts outcomes, and guides next steps. This allows professionals to focus on what matters most: understanding client needs and delivering tailored solutions,” concluded Ewa Michalska, COO at Grafton Recruitment.
A LinkedIn poll by Grafton found that sales professionals value AI most in offer preparation (42%), prospect list building (27%), and CRM management (24%), with only 2% seeing value in meeting scheduling—highlighting that human skills remain essential in client-facing roles.
Full report available here: Grafton Recruitment Report 2025
