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Executive sales director vs account executive

The differences between executive sales directors and account executives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an executive sales director has an average salary of $133,544, which is higher than the $69,618 average annual salary of an account executive.

The top three skills for an executive sales director include healthcare, c-suite and HR. The most important skills for an account executive are customer service, CRM, and healthcare.

Executive sales director vs account executive overview

Executive Sales DirectorAccount Executive
Yearly salary$133,544$69,618
Hourly rate$64.20$33.47
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs153,424205,561
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4644
Years of experience8-

What does an executive sales director do?

An executive sales director takes responsibility for overseeing the sales operations for a business or organization. Executive sales directors draft sales reports, estimate sales profits, and meet sales targets. They are experts when it comes to marketing and negotiation. Strategically, they plan and introduce new services and products to the corporate world. They motivate the organization's sales team to thrive for their marketing strategy. It is also their duty to make sure that the team meets the sales targets expected from them.

What does an account executive do?

An account executive is responsible for supporting existing clients, closing client deals, and developing sales strategies to increase the company's sales and satisfaction. An account executive must be competitive enough to keep up with the constant changes in the sales industry, including the high demands of digital marketing, a different approach to product advertising, effective negotiation, and presentation skills. An account executive also requires excellent communication skills for the successful acquisition of client accounts and immediately resolve possible complaints as they arise.

Executive sales director vs account executive salary

Executive sales directors and account executives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Executive Sales DirectorAccount Executive
Average salary$133,544$69,618
Salary rangeBetween $84,000 And $210,000Between $44,000 And $109,000
Highest paying CityAlbany, NYPortland, OR
Highest paying stateOregonOregon
Best paying companySumitomo Mitsui Financial GroupHitachi Vantara
Best paying industryHealth CareFinance

Differences between executive sales director and account executive education

There are a few differences between an executive sales director and an account executive in terms of educational background:

Executive Sales DirectorAccount Executive
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 75%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Executive sales director vs account executive demographics

Here are the differences between executive sales directors' and account executives' demographics:

Executive Sales DirectorAccount Executive
Average age4644
Gender ratioMale, 66.6% Female, 33.4%Male, 57.2% Female, 42.8%
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, 6.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.6% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage7%5%

Differences between executive sales director and account executive duties and responsibilities

Executive sales director example responsibilities.

  • Design and lead the development, implementation and adoption of an enterprise-wide CRM and data strategy.
  • Manage cross-selling opportunities between all business segments.
  • Incorporate graphics and re-usable database into RFP process.
  • Self-Direct, building an accurate CRM and effective sales database.
  • Evaluate RFP, proposals, and bids and responsible for contract review.
  • Identify opportunities and used discretion to create sales program, reporting, communication, award coordination and ROI tracking.
  • Show more

Account executive example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage Facebook and twitter accounts.
  • Have achieve Google certification for both SEM and SEO sales.
  • Lead proposal team in winning a $1MM RFP, turning around a key account relationship.
  • Manage all aspects of new FedEx implementations (automation set-up, operational support and training of customers).
  • Develop and manage networking, VoIP, IP/TV, video, cloud, wireless, and security/disaster recovery projects.
  • Source all leads by means of cold calling, leveraging linkedin, referrals, and upselling to existing customers.
  • Show more

Executive sales director vs account executive skills

Common executive sales director skills
  • Healthcare, 23%
  • C-Suite, 10%
  • HR, 9%
  • Sales Growth, 7%
  • Direct Sales, 7%
  • CRM, 6%
Common account executive skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Healthcare, 5%
  • Sales Process, 5%
  • Salesforce, 4%
  • Work Ethic, 4%

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