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The differences between channel managers and technical sales managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a channel manager and a technical sales manager. Additionally, a technical sales manager has an average salary of $129,770, which is higher than the $87,573 average annual salary of a channel manager.
The top three skills for a channel manager include customer service, CRM and digital marketing. The most important skills for a technical sales manager are customer satisfaction, sales management, and CRM.
| Channel Manager | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $87,573 | $129,770 |
| Hourly rate | $42.10 | $62.39 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 106,753 | 193,981 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
A channel manager is responsible for supervising client relations within the assigned partner accounts. Channel managers handle the project management strategies to achieve clients' satisfaction by following their specifications and requirements. They manage marketing and promotional campaigns to improve brand awareness of the target market audience. A channel manager also oversees media relations techniques, as well as publishing digital content that would attract customers and generate more revenue resources for the business. A channel manager coordinates with channel partners for maintaining optimal performance and maximum productivity.
A technical sales manager is responsible for monitoring the sales techniques and performance of the sales team in selling technical services and systems to the customers. Technical sales managers coordinate with clients to discuss and negotiate offers of new products and services. They also identify business opportunities by analyzing current technology trends from public demands to generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profits. A technical sales manager facilitates and plans sales training and programs to maximize staff's efficiency and productivity.
Channel managers and technical sales managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Channel Manager | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Average salary | $87,573 | $129,770 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $121,000 | Between $90,000 And $186,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sunnyvale, CA | Columbia, MD |
| Highest paying state | California | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Meta | Palo Alto Networks |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a channel manager and a technical sales manager in terms of educational background:
| Channel Manager | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between channel managers' and technical sales managers' demographics:
| Channel Manager | Technical Sales Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% | Male, 86.2% Female, 13.8% |
| 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% |