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The differences between account representatives and business development executives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become an account representative, becoming a business development executive takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a business development executive has an average salary of $97,871, which is higher than the $36,977 average annual salary of an account representative.
The top three skills for an account representative include customer service, patients and patient accounts. The most important skills for a business development executive are business development, digital transformation, and customer service.
| Account Representative | Business Development Executive | |
| Yearly salary | $36,977 | $97,871 |
| Hourly rate | $17.78 | $47.05 |
| Growth rate | -8% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 183,446 | 189,950 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Average age | 46 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 10 |
Account representatives are employees who manage client accounts and act as the main contact of the clients they are handling. They maintain existing accounts by updating client details regularly. They also check up on clients to see if they are still satisfied with the products or services of the company. They also create new accounts by welcoming new clients and assisting them in their needs. Account representatives manage client inquiries and process client requests. They also address complaints and ensure that any challenges are mitigated and that clients remain with the company.
A business development executive serves as a senior manager who drives company sales. Business development executives convince existing clients to buy more offerings and also source new clients. The focus of their job is on lead generation, prospect management, and customer acquisition. They collaborate with management in terms of sales objectives, planning, and prediction. The skills necessary for this job include customer service and relations, time management, strong written communication, and sales process experience.
Account representatives and business development executives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Account Representative | Business Development Executive | |
| Average salary | $36,977 | $97,871 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $51,000 | Between $64,000 And $149,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Phoenix, AZ |
| Highest paying state | California | Arizona |
| Best paying company | New Relic | Clifford Chance |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between an account representative and a business development executive in terms of educational background:
| Account Representative | Business Development Executive | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 75% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between account representatives' and business development executives' demographics:
| Account Representative | Business Development Executive | |
| Average age | 46 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4% | Male, 63.8% Female, 36.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 3.9% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 10% |