Become An Account Executive
Where do you want to work?
Working As An Account Executive
- Selling or Influencing Others
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
$57,690
Average Salary
What Does An Account Executive Do
How To Become An Account Executive
Educational requirements vary, depending on the type of product sold. If the products are not scientific or technical, a high school diploma is generally enough for entry into the occupation. If the products are scientific or technical, sales representatives typically need at least a bachelor's degree.
EducationA high school diploma is sufficient for many positions, primarily for selling nontechnical or scientific products. However, those selling scientific and technical products typically must have a bachelor's degree. Scientific and technical products include pharmaceuticals, medical instruments, and industrial equipment. A degree in a field related to the product sold, such as chemistry, biology, or engineering, is often required.
Many sales representatives attend seminars in sales techniques or take courses in marketing, economics, communication, or even a foreign language to improve their ability to make sales.
TrainingMany companies have formal training programs for beginning wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives that last up to 1 year. In some programs, trainees rotate among jobs in plants and offices to learn all phases of producing, installing, and distributing the product. In others, trainees receive formal technical instruction at the plant, followed by on-the-job training under the supervision of a field sales manager.
New employees may be trained by going along with experienced workers on their sales calls. As they gain familiarity with the firm's products and clients, the new workers gain more responsibility until they eventually get their own territory.
Licenses, Certifications, and RegistrationsMany in this occupation have either the Certified Professional Manufacturers' Representative (CPMR) certification or the Certified Sales Professional (CSP) certification, both offered by the Manufacturers' Representatives Educational Research Foundation (MRERF). Certification typically involves completing formal technical training and passing an exam. In addition, the CPMR requires 10 hours of continuing education every year in order to maintain certification.
Other ExperienceAlthough not required, sales experience can be helpful, particularly for nontechnical positions.
AdvancementFrequently, promotion takes the form of an assignment to a larger account or territory, where commissions are likely to be greater. Those who have good sales records and leadership ability may advance to higher level positions, such as sales supervisor, district manager, or vice president of sales. For more information on these positions, see the profile on sales managers.
Important QualitiesCustomer-service skills. Sales representatives must be able to listen to the customer’s needs and concerns before and after the sale.
Interpersonal skills. Sales representatives must be able to work well with many types of people. They must be able to build good relationships with clients and with other members of the sales team.
Self-confidence. Sales representatives must be confident and persuasive when making sales presentations. In addition, making a call to a potential customer who is not expecting to be contacted, or “cold calling,” requires confidence and composure.
Stamina. Sales representatives are often on their feet for long periods of time and may carry heavy sample products.
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Account Executive jobs
Account Executive Career Paths
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Senior Sales Account Executive 4.4 years
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Manager, Account Executive 4.2 years
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Senior Sales Executive 4.0 years
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Senior Account Executive 3.8 years
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Major Account Executive 3.5 years
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Sales Account Manager 3.5 years
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National Account Executive 3.4 years
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Sales/Account Representative 3.3 years
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Commercial Account Manager 3.3 years
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Advertising Account Executive 3.2 years
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Corporate Account Manager 3.2 years
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National Sales Executive 3.2 years
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Regional Sales Executive 3.2 years
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Business Development Account Manager 3.1 years
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Commercial Account Executive 3.1 years
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Account Executive/Outside Sales 3.1 years
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Account Executive 3.0 years
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Regional Account Executive 3.0 years
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Outside Sales Executive 3.0 years
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Account Manager 2.9 years
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Account Development Manager 2.9 years
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Corporate Sales Executive 2.9 years
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Corporate Account Executive 2.9 years
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Territory Account Executive 2.9 years
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Inside Sales Account Executive 2.7 years
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Outside Account Executive 2.3 years
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Inside Sales Executive 2.2 years
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Sales Representative 14.8%
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Account Manager 12.5%
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Sales Manager 9.9%
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Sales Associate 6.5%
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Internship 5.3%
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Assistant Manager 4.1%
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Manager 3.8%
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Sales Consultant 3.6%
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Store Manager 3.3%
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General Manager 3.1%
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Territory Manager 2.8%
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Project Manager 2.6%
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Vice President 2.5%
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Account Manager 12.2%
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Senior Account Executive 10.1%
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Sales Manager 8.7%
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Sales Representative 8.4%
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Vice President 5.1%
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Director Of Sales 5.0%
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Business Developer 4.6%
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Sales Consultant 4.2%
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Owner 3.8%
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Marketing Manager 3.8%
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Sales Associate 3.3%
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Marketing Director 3.3%
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Project Manager 3.2%
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Consultant 3.1%
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Territory Manager 3.0%
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General Manager 2.9%
Average Length of Employment
Top Careers Before Account Executive
Top Careers After Account Executive
Account Executive Demographics
Gender
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Male
55.3% -
Female
42.8% -
Unknown
1.9%
Ethnicity
-
White
79.9% -
Hispanic or Latino
10.5% -
Asian
7.2% -
Unknown
1.7% -
Black or African American
0.6%
Languages Spoken
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Spanish
52.4% -
French
10.1% -
Chinese
4.4% -
Portuguese
4.4% -
Mandarin
4.3% -
Italian
4.3% -
German
3.7% -
Japanese
2.6% -
Arabic
2.0% -
Russian
1.9% -
Korean
1.8% -
Cantonese
1.5% -
Carrier
1.4% -
Hindi
1.4% -
Urdu
0.8% -
Hebrew
0.8% -
Greek
0.6% -
Vietnamese
0.6% -
Polish
0.5% -
Dutch
0.5%
Account Executive
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Account Executive Education
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University of Phoenix
17.0% -
Michigan State University
7.7% -
Arizona State University
5.1% -
West Virginia University
4.9% -
Florida State University
4.9% -
Temple University
4.6% -
University of Alabama
4.3% -
Pennsylvania State University
4.3% -
University of Texas at Austin
4.2% -
New York University
4.2% -
University of Georgia
4.2% -
University of Kansas
4.1% -
Western Michigan University
4.1% -
Northeastern University
4.1% -
University of Arizona
3.9% -
Syracuse University
3.8% -
University of Iowa
3.7% -
University of Florida
3.7% -
Ball State University
3.6% -
San Diego State University
3.6% -
Business 32.3%
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Marketing 13.9%
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Communication 10.5%
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Management 5.2%
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Finance 4.1%
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Psychology 4.0%
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Public Relations 3.5%
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Political Science 3.1%
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Journalism 2.6%
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English 2.3%
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Accounting 2.3%
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Economics 2.2%
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Education 2.0%
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Advertising 2.0%
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Kinesiology 2.0%
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General Sales 1.7%
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Liberal Arts 1.7%
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Criminal Justice 1.7%
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Sociology 1.5%
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History 1.4%
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Bachelors
57.2% -
Other
18.3% -
Masters
14.7% -
Associate
5.4% -
Certificate
2.5% -
Doctorate
0.9% -
Diploma
0.5% -
License
0.4%
Schools
Majors
Degrees
Account Executive
Unfortunately we don’t have enough data for this section.
Real Account Executive Salaries
Job Title
|
Company
|
Location
|
Start Date
|
Salary
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account Executive | SG Americas Securities, LLC | New York, NY | Jan 26, 2015 | $250,000 |
| Account Executive | SG Americas Securities, LLC | New York, NY | Mar 29, 2016 | $250,000 |
| Account Executive-Reinsurance, Latin America & Caribbean | JLT Re (North America), Inc. | Miami, FL | Oct 01, 2015 | $237,000 |
| Account Executive (General Business-Strategic Accounts) | Salesforce.Com | San Francisco, CA | Feb 13, 2015 | $225,000 |
| Account Executive (General Business-Strategic Accounts) | Salesforce.Com, Inc. | Wake Forest, NC | Aug 15, 2015 | $225,000 |
| Account Executive (General Business-Strategic Accounts) | Salesforce.Com | San Francisco, CA | Sep 11, 2015 | $225,000 |
| Application Services Sales Executive | Accenture LLP | San Jose, CA | Jun 03, 2015 | $215,000 |
| Sales Director & Account Executive-BW and Standard Products | Comau LLC | Southfield, MI | Jun 16, 2016 | $200,000 - $250,000 |
| Account Executive | Accenture LLP | Boston, MA | Dec 29, 2015 | $175,000 |
| Account Executive | Accenture LLP | Pittsburgh, PA | Dec 29, 2015 | $175,000 |
| Account Executive | Microsoft Corporation | San Francisco, CA | Apr 21, 2015 | $170,200 |
| Account Executive | Microsoft Corporation | San Francisco, CA | Apr 15, 2015 | $170,200 |
| Application Services Account Executive | Accenture LLP | Florham Park, NJ | Jan 12, 2015 | $170,000 |
| Account Executive | ESPN Sales & Marketing, Inc. | New York, NY | Sep 22, 2016 | $168,100 |
| Sales Executive | WC Food Lines, Inc. | Baltimore, MD | Sep 02, 2015 | $85,010 |
| Account Executive, Sales Planning | Ralph Lauren Corporation | New York, NY | Mar 09, 2016 | $85,000 |
| Sales Executive | Say Media, Inc. | New York, NY | Apr 17, 2015 | $85,000 - $100,000 |
| Account Executive | Adroll, Inc. | New York, NY | Dec 09, 2016 | $85,000 |
| Account Executive | Burberry Limited | New York, NY | Aug 15, 2016 | $85,000 |
| Account Executive | Ulink Technology, Inc. | Santa Clara, CA | Mar 03, 2016 | $84,573 |
| Account Executive | Microsoft Corporation | Tampa, FL | Dec 29, 2015 | $83,500 |
| Account Executive (Operational Risk Analyst) | Atlas Insurance Management, LLC | Charlotte, NC | Sep 28, 2016 | $83,200 |
| Account Executive | Aptean, Inc. | Santa Monica, CA | Jan 10, 2016 | $54,974 - $72,779 |
| Account Executive | Alison Mazzola Communications Inc. | New York, NY | Jan 05, 2016 | $54,954 |
| Bilingual Account Executive | Beauty Plus Trading Co., Inc. | Moonachie, NJ | May 13, 2016 | $54,954 |
| Financial Account Executive | New York Water Management Inc. | New York, NY | Sep 01, 2015 | $54,763 |
| Sales Executive | Hypertech Computers | Overland Park, KS | Sep 18, 2015 | $54,683 |
| Bilingual Account Executive | Beshe LLC. | Moonachie, NJ | Sep 24, 2015 | $54,642 |
| Account Executive | Oxeon LLC | New York, NY | Aug 23, 2015 | $54,000 |
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Top Skills for An Account Executive
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Top Account Executive Skills
- Product Knowledge
- Sales Territory
- Customer Service
- Maintained a high level of technical product knowledge to work closely with the cardiology community.
- Managed Midwest Sales Territory with primary focus on new business development.
- Ranked in the 90th percentile in all categories for customer service in a survey of clients and agencies
- Received Consistency Award for repeatedly exceeding monthly quota for both voice and wireless data sales.
- Provided borrowers with sound financial and mortgage advice based on complete knowledge and understanding of client needs and mortgage loan products.
Top Account Executive Employers
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Account Executive Videos
Account Executive (TV), Career Video from drkit.org
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Salesforce.com - Account Executive