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What is an account and program manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

An account and program manager oversees and manages the activities of the accounts and programs that are under their responsibility. That said, they play a significant role in ensuring the smooth workflow within their organization, as well as multiple relationships with clients and other stakeholders.

The typical workweek of an account and program manager revolve around delegating tasks to employees, managing work schedules, monitoring timelines, and coordinating with other relevant teams or departments. When they take on a new account or program, they spend most of their time studying the specifications, meeting with clients, and developing strategies to ensure the efficiency of work.

If you want to become an account and program manager, you would need to have a business-related degree, which is the typical requirement for this position across most industries. More than that, you must also display exemplary skills in leadership, organization, people management, and other relevant soft skills to qualify.

In exchange for these responsibilities, your earning potential as an account and program manager can be between $42,000 to $101,000, depending on your credentials.

ScoreAccount And Program ManagerUS Average
Salary
6.4

Avg. Salary $82,096

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.4

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 4.07%

Black or African American 3.24%

Hispanic or Latino 9.82%

Unknown 4.41%

White 78.23%

Gender

female 42.18%

male 57.82%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress level
6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Account and program manager career paths

Key steps to become an account and program manager

  1. Explore account and program manager education requirements

    Most common account and program manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    73.7 %

    Master's

    12.9 %

    Associate

    11.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific account and program manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Client Facing26.58%
    Account Management7.29%
    Program Management6.14%
    Project Management5.70%
    Customer Satisfaction5.17%
  3. Complete relevant account and program manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New account and program managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an account and program manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real account and program manager resumes.
  4. Research account and program manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage run-offs and buy offs of tooling along with getting PPAP approvals.
    • Manage day-to-day operations at multiple facilities and meet or exceed internal KPI's for all consumer repair programs.
    • Negotiate vendor contracts, manage cost, material usage, vendor contract compliance, and internal and external KPI's.
    • Lead sales and marketing efforts with major domestic and international customers, distributors and manufacturers.
  5. Prepare your account and program manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your account and program manager resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an account and program manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable account and program manager resume templates

    Build a professional account and program manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your account and program manager resume.
    Account And Program Manager Resume
    Account And Program Manager Resume
    Account And Program Manager Resume
    Account And Program Manager Resume
    Account And Program Manager Resume
    Account And Program Manager Resume
    Account And Program Manager Resume
    Account And Program Manager Resume
    Account And Program Manager Resume
  6. Apply for account and program manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an account and program manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first account and program manager job

Zippi

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Average account and program manager salary

The average account and program manager salary in the United States is $82,096 per year or $39 per hour. Account and program manager salaries range between $50,000 and $133,000 per year.

Average account and program manager salary
$82,096 Yearly
$39.47 hourly

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How do account and program managers rate their job?

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Account and program manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Project concept, execution - meeting business and Customer expectations.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2019
Pros

Meeting with consumers, educating, coaching, discussing products

Cons

None, I really enjoy it


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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