Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between client relationship managers and channel 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 relationship manager and a channel manager. Additionally, a client relationship manager has an average salary of $89,226, which is higher than the $87,573 average annual salary of a channel manager.
The top three skills for a client relationship manager include customer service, client service and client satisfaction. The most important skills for a channel manager are customer service, CRM, and digital marketing.
| Client Relationship Manager | Channel Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $89,226 | $87,573 |
| Hourly rate | $42.90 | $42.10 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 85,793 | 106,753 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
Client Relationship Managers handle special client accounts for the company. They are usually assigned to essential clients or corporate accounts. They ensure that the company keeps these clients engaged. Client Relationship Managers work hard to build professional working relationships. They give special attention to the assigned client accounts and provide clients with updates on company services and promotions. They tend to any concerns that clients may have, and they ensure that these concerns are properly addressed and resolved. Client Relationship Managers are entrusted to build and strengthen the company's relationship with a client. As such, they are expected to be professional, friendly, and collaborative.
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.
Client relationship managers and channel managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Client Relationship Manager | Channel Manager | |
| Average salary | $89,226 | $87,573 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $139,000 | Between $63,000 And $121,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Fenwick & West | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a client relationship manager and a channel manager in terms of educational background:
| Client Relationship Manager | Channel Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between client relationship managers' and channel managers' demographics:
| Client Relationship Manager | Channel Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% | Male, 70.1% Female, 29.9% |
| 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% |