Implementation manager vs customer success manager

The differences between implementation managers and customer success managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both an implementation manager and a customer success manager. Additionally, a customer success manager has an average salary of $93,820, which is higher than the $90,790 average annual salary of an implementation manager.

The top three skills for an implementation manager include project management, account management and client relationships. The most important skills for a customer success manager are client facing, cloud, and account management.

Implementation manager vs customer success manager overview

	Implementation Manager	Customer Success Manager
Yearly salary	$90,790	$93,820
Hourly rate	$43.65	$45.11
Growth rate	16%	5%
Number of jobs	136,883	95,053
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 71%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age	47	46
Years of experience	8	8

What does an implementation manager do?

An implementation manager specializes in introducing new systems, networks, and processes to the entire company workforce. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around overseeing the implementation team to ensure that everything is running smoothly, devising action and work plans, coordinating with different departments, monitoring requisitions and information materials, and verifying their accuracy. An implementation manager may also address issues and concerns, providing technical support when necessary. Furthermore, it is essential to lead and encourage the team, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

What does a customer success manager do?

A customer success manager works to understand repeat customers and prioritize their long-term needs. Primarily, they manage the customer relationship and give them prompt value propositions. They act as mentors to customers by educating them about the sales process and ensure efficient transaction processing. Their tasks include advocating for the company, onboarding customers to the products, follow-up on renewals, and encouraging cross-sells and upsells. Additionally, they build relationships with the customer and the support team as well as advocating customers' needs.

Implementation manager vs customer success manager salary

Implementation managers and customer success managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Implementation Manager	Customer Success Manager
Average salary	$90,790	$93,820
Salary range	Between $64,000 And $126,000	Between $61,000 And $142,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	Redwood City, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Levi Strauss & Co.	VMware
Best paying industry	-	Technology

Differences between implementation manager and customer success manager education

There are a few differences between an implementation manager and a customer success manager in terms of educational background:

	Implementation Manager	Customer Success Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 71%	Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Carnegie Mellon University	University of Pennsylvania

Implementation manager vs customer success manager demographics

Here are the differences between implementation managers' and customer success managers' demographics:

	Implementation Manager	Customer Success Manager
Average age	47	46
Gender ratio	Male, 59.0% Female, 41.0%	Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 12.7% White, 65.5% 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	11%	7%

Differences between implementation manager and customer success manager duties and responsibilities

Implementation manager example responsibilities.

Lead the strategic project planning efforts and the technology architecture design initiatives.
Document each client's processes for artifacts and manage through project closure via SharePoint.
Create and manage detailed project plans for all phases of SDLC to ensure successful deployments.
Lead a group of 10 Java engineers and 12 web developers in creating web-base online banking applications.
Manage one internal ERP specialist, who maintains and modifies the ERP system and provides specialist technical support.
Manage state-by-state projects from planning/scheduling, architecture, development, Nessus scan vulnerabilities, QA, UAT, to deployment.

Customer success manager example responsibilities.

Help doctors manage their facebook page and website.
Achieve excellent performance results as compared to other Aarons stores.
Help customers establish spend and savings goals and achieve those to get full ROI.
Link QuickBooks system with customer sales database to automate the process of tax administration.
Well verse in leveraging CRM to manage accounts, capture metrics, and implement relevant processes.
Raise RingCentral's NPS score, by creating superb relations with clients that lead to increase survey ratings.

Implementation manager vs customer success manager skills

Common implementation manager skills

Project Management, 15%
Account Management, 7%
Client Relationships, 6%
Client Expectations, 6%
Client Facing, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

Common customer success manager skills

Client Facing, 10%
Cloud, 7%
Account Management, 7%
Customer Relationships, 5%
Saas, 5%
Customer Service, 5%

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Implementation Manager
Implementation Manager vs Customer Success Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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