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What is a director of sales-national accounts and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Ken Corbit Ph.D.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a director of sales-national accounts. For example, did you know that they make an average of $66.45 an hour? That's $138,215 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 23,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a director of sales-national accounts?

Ken Corbit Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Marketing, Texas Christian University

Strategic
Company Selection:
Focus on joining companies with robust sales training programs, emphasizing consultative selling. Look for organizations that invest in your development, providing live calling experiences, quota-driven sales processes, and exposure to tools like Salesforce.

Tech
Proficiency and Sales Tools Mastery:
Familiarize yourself with cutting-edge sales technologies, including CRM tools like Salesforce. Your proficiency in these tools will not only streamline your sales processes but also position you as a tech-savvy professional in the competitive sales landscape.

Hands-On
Experience:
Actively engage in live calling, take ownership of sales funnels, and work with senior hiring authorities during your training. This hands-on experience will not only build your confidence but also prepare you for the challenges of consultative selling.

Research
and Decision-Making Skills:
Develop strong research skills to evaluate companies based on fit, growth opportunities, compensation structures, and overall potential. This informed decision-making approach will set you apart and empower you to navigate the sales landscape strategically.

Mentorship
and Networking:
Seek mentorship both within and outside your organization. Building relationships with mentors who invest in your sales skills and knowledge will provide valuable insights. Additionally, actively participate in online forums to connect with practical sales
knowledge and best practices.
ScoreDirector Of Sales-National AccountsUS Average
Salary
8.6

Avg. Salary $138,215

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.4

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.24%

Asian 4.07%

Black or African American 3.24%

Hispanic or Latino 9.82%

Unknown 4.41%

White 78.23%

Gender

female 20.84%

male 79.16%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress level
6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Director of sales-national accounts career paths

Key steps to become a director of sales-national accounts

  1. Explore director of sales-national accounts education requirements

    Most common director of sales-national accounts degrees

    Bachelor's

    82.9 %

    Master's

    10.4 %

    Associate

    5.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific director of sales-national accounts skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Satisfaction19.41%
    Sales Process18.90%
    Sales Management14.42%
    Account Executives8.93%
    National Accounts5.47%
  3. Complete relevant director of sales-national accounts training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New directors of sales-national accounts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a director of sales-national accounts based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real director of sales-national accounts resumes.
  4. Research director of sales-national accounts duties and responsibilities

    • Manage cross-selling opportunities between all business segments.
    • Leverage relationships with key vendors to establish best pricing, meet long term requirements and maximize profitability.
    • Position Sam's first-to-market with co-creation innovative premium products.
  5. Get director of sales-national accounts experience

    Generally, it takes 6-8 years to become a director of sales-national accounts. The most common roles before becoming a director of sales-national accounts include director of sales, regional sales manager team lead and national account manager.
  6. Prepare your director of sales-national accounts resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of sales-national accounts resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a director of sales-national accounts resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable director of sales-national accounts resume templates

    Build a professional director of sales-national accounts resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your director of sales-national accounts resume.
    Director Of Sales-National Accounts Resume
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    Director Of Sales-National Accounts Resume
    Director Of Sales-National Accounts Resume
    Director Of Sales-National Accounts Resume
    Director Of Sales-National Accounts Resume
    Director Of Sales-National Accounts Resume
    Director Of Sales-National Accounts Resume
    Director Of Sales-National Accounts Resume
  7. Apply for director of sales-national accounts jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a director of sales-national accounts job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first director of sales-national accounts job

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Average director of sales-national accounts salary

The average director of sales-national accounts salary in the United States is $138,215 per year or $66 per hour. Director of sales-national accounts salaries range between $103,000 and $184,000 per year.

Average director of sales-national accounts salary
$138,215 Yearly
$66.45 hourly

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Director of sales-national accounts reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

Antigienic people, irresponsible people, lazy employees


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Cons

I like everything


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019
Pros

Increase the revenue potential of an entire sales organization through repeatable, scalable, and predictable processes.

Cons

There's not much I dislike about the role, but the slow down from having to align multiple departments and functions together before being able to more forward with an initiative is a drain.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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