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The differences between advertising account managers and key account managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an advertising account manager, becoming a key account manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a key account manager has an average salary of $102,315, which is higher than the $75,431 average annual salary of an advertising account manager.
The top three skills for an advertising account manager include lead generation, sales presentations and account management. The most important skills for a key account manager are account management, customer service, and patients.
| Advertising Account Manager | Key Account Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $75,431 | $102,315 |
| Hourly rate | $36.26 | $49.19 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 105,277 | 160,992 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 39 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 8 |
An advertising account manager works at advertising agencies where they are in charge of communicating with clients and managing accounts, building positive client relationships in the process. They coordinate directly with creative teams, ensuring that operations adhere to the clients' budgets, preferences, guidelines, and project requirements. There are also instances when they must secure the clients' advertising needs by liaising with external parties, purchasing advertising spaces, and researching new advertising opportunities. Moreover, an advertising account manager answers inquiries and updates the clients regularly.
A key account manager is primarily in charge of handling key clients that produce the most profit for a company or business, ensuring that they remain with them. They are mainly responsible for understanding their clients' needs and long-term goals, ensuring that the key clients get to receive all the necessary services and products in time, and promptly address and resolve any issues and concerns. Furthermore, a key account manager may prepare reports and proposals to team members, all while adhering to the company's policies and standards.
Advertising account managers and key account managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Advertising Account Manager | Key Account Manager | |
| Average salary | $75,431 | $102,315 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $112,000 | Between $75,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Maine |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Quidel |
| Best paying industry | Internet | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between an advertising account manager and a key account manager in terms of educational background:
| Advertising Account Manager | Key Account Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 81% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between advertising account managers' and key account managers' demographics:
| Advertising Account Manager | Key Account Manager | |
| Average age | 39 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.5% Female, 57.5% | Male, 68.1% Female, 31.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 7.6% White, 71.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 | 10% | 7% |