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The differences between executive directors business development and account directors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become an executive director business development, becoming an account director takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, an executive director business development has an average salary of $134,931, which is higher than the $114,728 average annual salary of an account director.
The top three skills for an executive director business development include CRM, market trends and market research. The most important skills for an account director are account management, project management, and work ethic.
| Executive Director Business Development | Account Director | |
| Yearly salary | $134,931 | $114,728 |
| Hourly rate | $64.87 | $55.16 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 211,826 | 132,260 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Average age | 39 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 8 |
A business development executive's primary goal is to help their company drive forward using multilayered sales and customer service skills. They research and pursue prospective clients and new business leads that have excellent business growth potential. They are expected to work on new business proposals and present persuasive presentations for their services or products. They must conduct a thorough analysis to ensure success and avoid losses that may affect their business partners' and shareholders' trust in the company's capability of maximizing target profit.
An account director is responsible for managing client accounts, monitoring budgets, and sales forecasting. Their goal is to maintain stable account management strategies, meet clients' demands, develop healthy professional partnerships that would generate revenues, increase profitability, and achieve the organization's long-term goals objectives. Account directors supervise the account management staff, ensuring the project's successful completion with the highest efficiency and accuracy. An account director also plans training programs to maximize their performance and productivity, especially when dealing with deadlines and clients' requests.
Executive directors business development and account directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Executive Director Business Development | Account Director | |
| Average salary | $134,931 | $114,728 |
| Salary range | Between $88,000 And $205,000 | Between $82,000 And $158,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Exelixis | BuzzFeed |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between an executive director business development and an account director in terms of educational background:
| Executive Director Business Development | Account Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 80% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between executive directors business development' and account directors' demographics:
| Executive Director Business Development | Account Director | |
| Average age | 39 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.8% Female, 34.2% | Male, 50.9% Female, 49.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% 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 | 10% | 7% |