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Business director vs account executive

The differences between business directors and account executives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a business director has an average salary of $124,563, which is higher than the $69,618 average annual salary of an account executive.

The top three skills for a business director include project management, healthcare and sigma. The most important skills for an account executive are customer service, CRM, and healthcare.

Business director vs account executive overview

Business DirectorAccount Executive
Yearly salary$124,563$69,618
Hourly rate$59.89$33.47
Growth rate6%5%
Number of jobs137,880205,561
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4444
Years of experience6-

What does a business director do?

Business directors are responsible for overseeing the development of an organization's business goals and objectives. They typically work to increase business revenue, identify and develop business opportunities, and expand the company's presence and its brands. Other duties and responsibilities may include establishing effective company policies, goals, and sales targets, overseeing financial and budgetary activities, and identifying ways to minimize cost and boost financial performance. Business directors are also expected to negotiate contracts with clients and suppliers and propose and develop new partnerships.

What does an account executive do?

An account executive is responsible for supporting existing clients, closing client deals, and developing sales strategies to increase the company's sales and satisfaction. An account executive must be competitive enough to keep up with the constant changes in the sales industry, including the high demands of digital marketing, a different approach to product advertising, effective negotiation, and presentation skills. An account executive also requires excellent communication skills for the successful acquisition of client accounts and immediately resolve possible complaints as they arise.

Business director vs account executive salary

Business directors and account executives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Business DirectorAccount Executive
Average salary$124,563$69,618
Salary rangeBetween $86,000 And $178,000Between $44,000 And $109,000
Highest paying CityProvidence, RIPortland, OR
Highest paying stateRhode IslandOregon
Best paying companyEp EnergyHitachi Vantara
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between business director and account executive education

There are a few differences between a business director and an account executive in terms of educational background:

Business DirectorAccount Executive
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 69%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Business director vs account executive demographics

Here are the differences between business directors' and account executives' demographics:

Business DirectorAccount Executive
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 63.3% Female, 36.7%Male, 57.2% Female, 42.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.3% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.6% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage10%5%

Differences between business director and account executive duties and responsibilities

Business director example responsibilities.

  • Plan and project manage the migration, testing and deployment of a new ERP system.
  • Develop various tools and processes to identify operational risk, effectively manage KPI's and monitor vendor relationships.
  • Manage cost-centers and leverage unique Indian production and post- production capabilities and position the company as a prefer production partner.
  • Lead ERP selection process and implementation project.
  • Enter claims into Medicare system; bill Medicaid and long-term care policies.
  • Provide direct operational oversight and supervision for assign dining facility.
  • Show more

Account executive example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage Facebook and twitter accounts.
  • Have achieve Google certification for both SEM and SEO sales.
  • Lead proposal team in winning a $1MM RFP, turning around a key account relationship.
  • Manage all aspects of new FedEx implementations (automation set-up, operational support and training of customers).
  • Develop and manage networking, VoIP, IP/TV, video, cloud, wireless, and security/disaster recovery projects.
  • Source all leads by means of cold calling, leveraging linkedin, referrals, and upselling to existing customers.
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Business director vs account executive skills

Common business director skills
  • Project Management, 10%
  • Healthcare, 8%
  • Sigma, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Oversight, 5%
  • Business Development, 5%
Common account executive skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Healthcare, 5%
  • Sales Process, 5%
  • Salesforce, 4%
  • Work Ethic, 4%

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