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Client success manager vs project manager

The differences between client success managers and project managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project manager has an average salary of $91,578, 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 project manager are project management, project scope, and customer service.

Client success manager vs project manager overview

Client Success ManagerProject Manager
Yearly salary$75,925$91,578
Hourly rate$36.50$44.03
Growth rate5%8%
Number of jobs105,665167,116
Job satisfaction-4.17
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4647
Years of experience8-

What does a client success manager do?

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.

What does a project manager do?

Project managers oversee a specific project related to the organization's business. They manage the whole project from inception to evaluation. They initiate planning with involved departments, follow-through on the plans, ensure smooth execution of the plans, and evaluate the project for further improvements should these be needed. In line with this, project managers also ensure that the project is cost-efficient and well within the budget. They also manage the different work teams involved in the project and ensure that things are running smoothly on this aspect as well.

Client success manager vs project manager salary

Client success managers and project managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Client Success ManagerProject Manager
Average salary$75,925$91,578
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $112,000Between $64,000 And $129,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateOregonCalifornia
Best paying companyAccentureThe Citadel
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between client success manager and project manager education

There are a few differences between a client success manager and a project manager in terms of educational background:

Client Success ManagerProject Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Client success manager vs project manager demographics

Here are the differences between client success managers' and project managers' demographics:

Client Success ManagerProject Manager
Average age4647
Gender ratioMale, 53.8% Female, 46.3%Male, 68.9% Female, 31.1%
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, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 9.0% White, 65.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage7%10%

Differences between client success manager and project manager duties and responsibilities

Client success manager example responsibilities.

  • Perform client set-ups and manage work flow through SalesForce.
  • Lead the overall client program management function providing leadership, coordination and management of PMO activities.
  • Manage partner relationship with EMC and develop go-to-market strategies.
  • Lead tool workshops to maximize CSM communication efficiency both internally and externally.
  • Represent major OEM brands i.e.
  • Build JavaScript libraries and design site enhancements.
  • Show more

Project manager example responsibilities.

  • Schedule and manage the GCP audit process.
  • Define, develop and manage metrics and KPIs systems for new product business group.
  • Manage the application process for the FDA medical device, minority and small business certifications.
  • Manage multiple projects and resources simultaneously while mentoring, coaching and implementing best practices, SOX and HIPAA compliance standards.
  • Lead teams using the Informatica ETL tool for the design and development of multiple financial and risk enterprise data warehouses.
  • Administer and manage Salesforce requirements.
  • Show more

Client success manager vs project manager skills

Common client success manager skills
  • Client Facing, 12%
  • Client Satisfaction, 9%
  • Cloud, 8%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 7%
  • Account Management, 7%
Common project manager skills
  • Project Management, 23%
  • Project Scope, 6%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Infrastructure, 5%
  • Status Reports, 4%
  • Risk Management, 3%

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