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Account executive vs director

The differences between account executives and directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a director has an average salary of $113,489, which is higher than the $69,618 average annual salary of an account executive.

The top three skills for an account executive include customer service, CRM and healthcare. The most important skills for a director are healthcare, customer service, and oversight.

Account executive vs director overview

Account ExecutiveDirector
Yearly salary$69,618$113,489
Hourly rate$33.47$54.56
Growth rate5%8%
Number of jobs205,561230,711
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4440
Years of experience-6

What does an account executive do?

An account executive is responsible for supporting existing clients, closing client deals, and developing sales strategies to increase the company's sales and satisfaction. An account executive must be competitive enough to keep up with the constant changes in the sales industry, including the high demands of digital marketing, a different approach to product advertising, effective negotiation, and presentation skills. An account executive also requires excellent communication skills for the successful acquisition of client accounts and immediately resolve possible complaints as they arise.

What does a director do?

Directors work in show business, whether in a film, a television show, or a theatre production. They are responsible for bringing the material to life. They work with the writers to get a clear vision of how the production should look. They lead the production team in planning for the production, identifying filming or rehearsing schedules, casting for roles, and other aspects that need to be decided upon. Directors provide direction to the actors to ensure that the actors understand their role and will be able to effectively convey emotions to the audience. They also manage all other crew members and communicate their expectations clearly so that everyone on the set is working towards one vision.

Account executive vs director salary

Account executives and directors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Account ExecutiveDirector
Average salary$69,618$113,489
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $109,000Between $66,000 And $192,000
Highest paying CityPortland, ORNew York, NY
Highest paying stateOregonNew York
Best paying companyHitachi VantaraMayo Clinic
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between account executive and director education

There are a few differences between an account executive and a director in terms of educational background:

Account ExecutiveDirector
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaStanford University

Account executive vs director demographics

Here are the differences between account executives' and directors' demographics:

Account ExecutiveDirector
Average age4440
Gender ratioMale, 57.2% Female, 42.8%Male, 53.2% Female, 46.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.6% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage5%14%

Differences between account executive and director duties and responsibilities

Account executive example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage Facebook and twitter accounts.
  • Have achieve Google certification for both SEM and SEO sales.
  • Lead proposal team in winning a $1MM RFP, turning around a key account relationship.
  • Manage all aspects of new FedEx implementations (automation set-up, operational support and training of customers).
  • Develop and manage networking, VoIP, IP/TV, video, cloud, wireless, and security/disaster recovery projects.
  • Source all leads by means of cold calling, leveraging linkedin, referrals, and upselling to existing customers.
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Director example responsibilities.

  • Manage water metering programs for NYC and national portfolio.
  • Collaborate with the CPA to manage financials and reporting / distribution to physicians.
  • Manage OEM manufacturing partners for making bulk solutions, product fills and final packaging.
  • Lead company's first deep-fill structural project, bring company into EPA compliance, establish effective QA-QC program.
  • Develop company website entirely as well as wrote and manage the SEO and upkeep for overall site maintenance.
  • Manage the company's hotel portfolio operations and assets, including renovation, new build, conversions, and rebranding.
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Account executive vs director skills

Common account executive skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Healthcare, 5%
  • Sales Process, 5%
  • Salesforce, 4%
  • Work Ethic, 4%
Common director skills
  • Healthcare, 10%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Oversight, 7%
  • Project Management, 6%
  • Human Resources, 4%
  • Business Development, 4%