Account executive, key accounts vs account manager

The differences between account executives, key accounts and account managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an account executive, key accounts, becoming an account manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, an account executive, key accounts has an average salary of $117,015, which is higher than the $68,535 average annual salary of an account manager.

The top three skills for an account executive, key accounts include healthcare, CRM and account management. The most important skills for an account manager are customer service, account management, and healthcare.

Account executive, key accounts vs account manager overview

	Account Executive, Key Accounts	Account Manager
Yearly salary	$117,015	$68,535
Hourly rate	$56.26	$32.95
Growth rate	4%	5%
Number of jobs	162,443	152,261
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 80%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age	47	46
Years of experience	4	8

What does an account executive, key accounts do?

Key Account Executives are responsible for generating sales revenue and maintaining relationships with key accounts of an organization. Their duties include setting sales targets, generating new leads, assiting in developing market strategies, designing and managing sales reporting tools, and working with the strategic communications team to ensure sponsor opportunities are relayed well. They are also involved in promotional content creation, implementing leads, and communicating product knowledge updates to the accounts and sales team.

What does an account manager do?

Account managers are employees who act as the bridge between the company they represent and the client of the company. They are assigned to handle specific clients so that the company will be able to tailor-fit any product or service according to the clients' requirements. Account managers are responsible for maintaining a harmonious relationship between the two parties by ensuring that any agreement made is amenable to both the company and the client. They are also responsible for ensuring that the company will be able to provide the needs of the client within any limitation that the client may have. Account managers also ensure that the company's reputation and well-being are always considered in any dealings.

Account executive, key accounts vs account manager salary

Account executives, key accounts and account managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Account Executive, Key Accounts	Account Manager
Average salary	$117,015	$68,535
Salary range	Between $75,000 And $181,000	Between $42,000 And $110,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	Washington
Best paying company	-	NVIDIA
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between account executive, key accounts and account manager education

There are a few differences between an account executive, key accounts and an account manager in terms of educational background:

	Account Executive, Key Accounts	Account Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 80%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Southern California

Account executive, key accounts vs account manager demographics

Here are the differences between account executives, key accounts' and account managers' demographics:

	Account Executive, Key Accounts	Account Manager
Average age	47	46
Gender ratio	Male, 61.4% Female, 38.6%	Male, 54.8% Female, 45.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%	Black or African American, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	7%

Differences between account executive, key accounts and account manager duties and responsibilities

Account executive, key accounts example responsibilities.

Manage day-to-day activity of client relate projects including IP voice, MPLS infrastructures and CPE implementations in a deadline-orient high-pressure environment.
Maximize the use of CRM, category management, and global account management tools to plan and execute on key initiatives.
Develop all operating plans and parking performas for RFP process.
Select based on previous expertise to deliver cloud software, mainframe solutions, and content management platforms.
Guide and motivate sales team through proper use of internal CRM, opportunity tracking, and risk approval internal processes.
Compose and deliver PowerPoint presentations to multiple buyers.

Account manager example responsibilities.

Manage financial departments with responsibility for managing payroll, bank re-consolidations, bank deposits, budgeting and cost control.
Manage $4 million territory encompassing three Mid-Atlantic states.
Manage new business and renewals for leading Saas legal solution.
Manage an inside sales territory of multiple states with Avaya technology solutions.
Negotiate and manage all contracts and pricing for IDN's in the territory.
Manage customers' accounts utilizing laptop and internet base CMS reporting software and ADM field guide.

Account executive, key accounts vs account manager skills

Common account executive, key accounts skills

Healthcare, 18%
CRM, 8%
Account Management, 7%
Revenue Growth, 6%
Product Line, 6%
C-Suite, 4%

Common account manager skills

Customer Service, 19%
Account Management, 8%
Healthcare, 6%
CRM, 6%
Product Knowledge, 5%
PowerPoint, 5%

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Sales Industry
Account Executive, Key Accounts
Account Executive, Key Accounts vs Account Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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