Account executive, key accounts vs national account representative

The differences between account executives, key accounts and national account representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an account executive, key accounts and a national account representative. Additionally, an account executive, key accounts has an average salary of $117,015, which is higher than the $44,826 average annual salary of a national account representative.

The top three skills for an account executive, key accounts include healthcare, CRM and account management. The most important skills for a national account representative are national accounts, customer service, and product knowledge.

Account executive, key accounts vs national account representative overview

	Account Executive, Key Accounts	National Account Representative
Yearly salary	$117,015	$44,826
Hourly rate	$56.26	$21.55
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	162,443	204,509
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 80%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	4	4

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 a national account representative do?

A national account representative plays a pivotal role in managing client relationships. These professionals manage relationships for high-value customers, especially those who invest vast amounts in the company or those who have stayed in the organization for an extended period. In general, the national account representative's primary goal is to foster trust. National account representatives identify new business opportunities and make sales calls. To qualify as a national account representative, you must possess a bachelor's degree in this field, primarily in business administration.

Account executive, key accounts vs national account representative salary

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

	Account Executive, Key Accounts	National Account Representative
Average salary	$117,015	$44,826
Salary range	Between $75,000 And $181,000	Between $30,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between account executive, key accounts and national account representative education

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

	Account Executive, Key Accounts	National Account Representative
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 80%	Bachelor's Degree, 72%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

Account executive, key accounts vs national account representative demographics

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

	Account Executive, Key Accounts	National Account Representative
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 61.4% Female, 38.6%	Male, 54.5% Female, 45.5%
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, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between account executive, key accounts and national account representative 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.

National account representative example responsibilities.

Manage and assist a vast customer base in the market for new roofing needs after a large hail storm in Lubbock.
Increase revenue through upselling new specialize testing options with key clinic staff and physicians.
Provide sales and technical support to distributors and OEM'S in the electrical distribution industry.
Maintain continuous contact with customers, including OEM, distribution, system integrators and end users.
Maintain continuous communication with warehouse managers, third party administrators, injure employees and healthcare professionals.
Respond to inquiries from medical providers, hospitals and other healthcare facilities regarding eligibility and claim status.

Account executive, key accounts vs national account representative skills

Common account executive, key accounts skills

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

Common national account representative skills

National Accounts, 17%
Customer Service, 15%
Product Knowledge, 13%
Account Management, 5%
Sales Growth, 4%
Trade Shows, 3%

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Account Executive, Key Accounts
Account Executive, Key Accounts vs National Account Representative

Updated January 8, 2025

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