Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between client success managers and client relationship 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 success manager and a client relationship manager. Additionally, a client relationship manager has an average salary of $89,226, which is higher than the $75,925 average annual salary of a client success manager.
The top three skills for a client success manager include client facing, client satisfaction and cloud. The most important skills for a client relationship manager are customer service, client service, and client satisfaction.
| Client Success Manager | Client Relationship Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $75,925 | $89,226 |
| Hourly rate | $36.50 | $42.90 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 105,665 | 85,793 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
The role of a client success manager is to work closely with clients to ensure that they are receiving the right support and tools they need to achieve their goals. You will typically perform a few tasks, which include advising clients on purchasing decisions and onboarding new customers the following purchase, advocating for the company, and following-up on renewals to maintain customer retention and loyalty. As a client success manager, you must encourage upselling and cross-selling to maximize a customer's lifetime value.
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.
Client success managers and client relationship managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Client Success Manager | Client Relationship Manager | |
| Average salary | $75,925 | $89,226 |
| Salary range | Between $51,000 And $112,000 | Between $57,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Accenture | Fenwick & West |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a client success manager and a client relationship manager in terms of educational background:
| Client Success Manager | Client Relationship Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between client success managers' and client relationship managers' demographics:
| Client Success Manager | Client Relationship Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.8% Female, 46.3% | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% |
| 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% |