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The differences between area account managers and key account managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both an area account manager and a key account manager. Additionally, a key account manager has an average salary of $102,315, which is higher than the $55,991 average annual salary of an area account manager.
The top three skills for an area account manager include account management, CRM and product knowledge. The most important skills for a key account manager are account management, customer service, and patients.
| Area Account Manager | Key Account Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $55,991 | $102,315 |
| Hourly rate | $26.92 | $49.19 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 148,425 | 160,992 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
An area account manager handles a customer's account, ensures its positive performance in the market, and increases sales and profit. The area account manager serves as the main contact person of a customer. Through this person, a customer can have all the information needed about the account and how it is performing. This manager must establish long and lasting relationships with customers, provide assurances for customer stakeholders and negotiate contracts with other businesses and maximize profits on both ends. The area account manager is one of the crucial personnel in a company.
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.
Area account managers and key account managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Area Account Manager | Key Account Manager | |
| Average salary | $55,991 | $102,315 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $80,000 | Between $75,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Maine |
| Best paying company | - | Quidel |
| Best paying industry | - | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between an area account manager and a key account manager in terms of educational background:
| Area Account Manager | Key Account Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between area account managers' and key account managers' demographics:
| Area Account Manager | Key Account Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.1% Female, 30.9% | Male, 68.1% Female, 31.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 7% | 7% |