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Client manager vs sales account manager

The differences between client managers and sales 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 a client manager and a sales account manager. Additionally, a client manager has an average salary of $88,768, which is higher than the $58,630 average annual salary of a sales account manager.

The top three skills for a client manager include customer service, account management and client facing. The most important skills for a sales account manager are customer service, CRM, and customer satisfaction.

Client manager vs sales account manager overview

Client ManagerSales Account Manager
Yearly salary$88,768$58,630
Hourly rate$42.68$28.19
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs118,707163,697
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a client manager do?

A client manager acts as a liaison between the company and its clients. You are expected to ensure client satisfaction and excellent customer service. Your duties typically include managing client relationships, delivering proposals, and developing account plans. In addition, you are responsible for improving customer experience, communicating with customers and answering their inquiries, and managing and resolving conflicts. As a client manager, you are expected to supervise clients and internal teams, lead the execution of projects, and to work with clients and partner agencies in developing business objectives.

What does a sales account manager do?

The account sales manager is in charge of the retention of their customer relationship. They have to supervise the portfolio of existing clients, develop new business with them, and seek new sales opportunities. Account sales managers act as liaisons between the company and customer as well as build strong, long-lasting relationships by providing an improved customer experience. It is their responsibility to negotiate contracts and close deals to maximize sales profits. Also, they forecast track sales results and prepare reports on account status.

Client manager vs sales account manager salary

Client managers and sales account managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Client ManagerSales Account Manager
Average salary$88,768$58,630
Salary rangeBetween $59,000 And $132,000Between $33,000 And $101,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyBaker McKenzieGoogle
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between client manager and sales account manager education

There are a few differences between a client manager and a sales account manager in terms of educational background:

Client ManagerSales Account Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Client manager vs sales account manager demographics

Here are the differences between client managers' and sales account managers' demographics:

Client ManagerSales Account Manager
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 47.8% Female, 52.2%Male, 63.4% Female, 36.6%
Race ratioBlack 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 Percentage7%7%

Differences between client manager and sales account manager duties and responsibilities

Client manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage team to achieve and maintain monthly KPI goals.
  • Lead successful CIO level customer sit turnaround at key strategic accounts.
  • Cloud base services for on premise and/or off premise SaaS and manage services.
  • Manage all KPI's and create strategic plans for improvement; manage and execute consultant events.
  • Develop a client base by offering security, storage & virtualization, application development and manage services.
  • Manage global account teams in the pursuit of new business opportunities through the RFP process and/or client presentations.
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Sales account manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage RFQ/RFP responses to telecommunication, government and utility customers utilizing CRM system to manage customers.
  • Recruit to develop and manage new sales territory selling MRO industrial goods and services to existing and potential customers.
  • Manage and coordinate daily sales activities through target cold calling and telemarketing.
  • Organize and maintain existing national clients for process refrigeration and HVAC maintenance and service.
  • Maintain database, create mailers, and work in SalesForce to determine new possible clients.
  • Founded in 1935 ATD has grown from a regional family-own company to a successful nationwide distribution enterprise.
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Client manager vs sales account manager skills

Common client manager skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Account Management, 10%
  • Client Facing, 8%
  • Client Service, 7%
  • Client Management, 5%
  • Healthcare, 5%
Common sales account manager skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • CRM, 8%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
  • Account Management, 5%
  • Product Knowledge, 4%
  • Business Development, 4%

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