RevOps draws from diverse backgrounds. 23% of postings ask for SaaS experience, 5% want a technical background, and 5% mention finance. There's no single path in — but CRM fluency and data skills are table stakes.
Education: What's Actually Required
Most RevOps job postings mention a bachelor's degree, but the specifics vary. Business, marketing, finance, and computer science all appear frequently. The real filter is skills, not diplomas.
MBAs get mentioned in about 10% of postings — mostly at the Director and VP level. If you're early in your career, an MBA won't differentiate you nearly as much as a Salesforce Admin certification and SQL proficiency.
The Four Main Paths Into RevOps
1. Sales Operations → RevOps
The most common path. You've managed pipeline reporting, built dashboards, configured CRM workflows, and cleaned up the mess that sales reps leave behind. RevOps is the natural next step — same skills, broader scope. You bring an understanding of quota mechanics, territory design, and forecasting that pure analysts don't have.
2. Marketing Operations → RevOps
Marketing ops professionals bring MAP expertise (Marketo, HubSpot), lead scoring logic, and attribution modeling. The transition to RevOps means expanding beyond the marketing funnel into the full customer lifecycle. Your advantage: you understand the data that sales teams rely on but rarely generate themselves.
3. Business/Data Analytics → RevOps
Analysts with SQL, BI tool experience (Tableau, Power BI, Looker), and business acumen can move into RevOps from a data-first angle. 5% of postings mention a technical background. Your challenge: learning the GTM motion and how revenue teams actually work. Your advantage: you can build what others can only describe.
4. Consulting → RevOps
15% of postings mention consulting experience. Former consultants bring structured problem-solving, stakeholder management, and cross-functional project experience. The transition usually happens at the Senior or Director level, where strategy matters more than tool configuration.
Experience Requirements by Level
| Level | Typical Experience | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Entry / Associate | 0-3 years | $71K |
| Mid-Level | 3-5 years | $92K |
| Senior | 5-8 years | $122K |
| Director+ | 8-12+ years | $140K |
The biggest salary jump happens between Senior and Director — a $17K median increase. That's where strategic skills and leadership experience start to outweigh tool proficiency.
The SaaS Question
23% of RevOps postings mention SaaS experience. If you're coming from outside SaaS, this can feel like a barrier. It doesn't have to be.
What "SaaS experience" really means: familiarity with recurring revenue models, subscription metrics (ARR, churn, NRR), and the typical SaaS GTM motion (SDR → AE → CSM). You can learn this. The RevOps glossary covers the key terms. What you can't fake is CRM proficiency and comfort with data.
Startup vs Enterprise: Different Skill Sets
23% of postings mention startup or high-growth experience. Startup RevOps is generalist work — you'll own everything from CRM admin to comp plans to board reporting. Enterprise RevOps is specialist work — deeper expertise in one area (deal desk, territory planning, sales analytics) with a larger team around you.
Neither is better. But knowing which environment you want matters for targeting your search. See the current listings and filter by company size.
Frequently Asked Questions
What degree do I need for RevOps?
About 19% of RevOps job postings mention a bachelor's degree. Only 10% specifically ask for an MBA. A business, analytics, or technical degree helps, but demonstrated CRM and data skills matter more than pedigree.
Can I switch to RevOps from sales?
Yes. 2% of postings mention sales background as relevant experience. Former AEs and sales managers who understand pipeline mechanics and CRM data have a natural advantage in RevOps roles.
How many years of experience do I need?
It depends on the level. Entry-level roles exist but are rare. Most postings ask for 3-5 years (30% of listings). Senior and Director roles typically want 7-10+ years.
What's the salary range for entry-level RevOps?
Entry-level RevOps roles have a median salary of $71K. Mid-level jumps to $92K. The Senior → Director jump is where compensation accelerates significantly to $140K median.
Methodology: Data based on 455 job postings with disclosed compensation, collected from Indeed, LinkedIn, and company career pages as of weekly job market data. All salary figures represent posted ranges, not self-reported data.