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What is an inside sales account manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Bill Thorne
introduction image

An inside sales account manager sells products or services to customers through phone and email communication. They maintain relationships with existing clients and seek out new business opportunities by identifying and generating potential sales leads. Inside sales account managers work closely with marketing teams and other departments to develop strategies that will increase sales and revenue. The role requires excellent communication and negotiation skills, and a deep understanding of the products or services being sold.

What general advice would you give to an inside sales account manager?

Bill ThorneBill Thorne LinkedIn profile

Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation

Retail is the largest private-sector employer in the country, directly employing 32 million people and supporting 52 million jobs overall - roughly one-quarter of the U.S. workforce. While COVID-19 has presented new and unexpected challenges, retailers have continued to showcase the industry's resilience and adaptability time and again. The safety and security of customers and employees remains our greatest priority. It is no doubt that the professional environment has changed this year, but retail continues to offer a plethora of career opportunities for graduates and seasoned veterans alike.
ScoreInside Sales Account ManagerUS Average
Salary
4.7

Avg. Salary $60,413

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 43.40%

male 56.60%

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

What are the pros and cons of being an inside sales account manager?

Pros

  • Potential for high earnings through commissions

  • Ability to work remotely or from home

  • Opportunities for career growth within the company

  • Access to training and professional development

  • Ability to work independently and manage own workload

Cons

  • High-pressure environment with demanding sales targets

  • Limited face-to-face interaction with clients

  • Dealing with rejection and disappointment when deals fall through

  • Limited control over product pricing and offerings

  • Long hours and potential for working weekends or holidays

Inside sales account manager career paths

Key steps to become an inside sales account manager

  1. Explore inside sales account manager education requirements

    Most common inside sales account manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    72.9 %

    Associate

    13.6 %

    Master's

    5.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific inside sales account manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service15.67%
    Account Management9.30%
    CRM8.97%
    PowerPoint5.38%
    Salesforce3.97%
  3. Complete relevant inside sales account manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New inside sales account managers 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 an inside sales account manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real inside sales account manager resumes.
  4. Research inside sales account manager duties and responsibilities

    • Utilize SalesForce to manage customer activity.
    • Manage CRM sales pipeline for management forecasting and proper account and opportunity management.
    • Utilize CRM to track all pertinent information relate to the opportunity and effectively manage territory
    • Evaluate monthly budgets and territory saturation levels quarterly while managing lease renewals through needs analysis and ROI presentations
  5. Prepare your inside sales account manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your inside sales account manager 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 an inside sales account manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable inside sales account manager resume templates

    Build a professional inside sales account manager 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 inside sales account manager resume.
    Inside Sales Account Manager Resume
    Inside Sales Account Manager Resume
    Inside Sales Account Manager Resume
    Inside Sales Account Manager Resume
    Inside Sales Account Manager Resume
    Inside Sales Account Manager Resume
    Inside Sales Account Manager Resume
    Inside Sales Account Manager Resume
    Inside Sales Account Manager Resume
  6. Apply for inside sales account manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an inside sales account manager 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 inside sales account manager job

Zippi

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Average inside sales account manager salary

The average inside sales account manager salary in the United States is $60,413 per year or $29 per hour. Inside sales account manager salaries range between $40,000 and $90,000 per year.

Average inside sales account manager salary
$60,413 Yearly
$29.04 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do inside sales account managers rate their job?

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Inside sales account manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021
Pros

Dealing with other professional engineers and managers that show higher levels of integrity when discussing requirements or a problem to solve.

Cons

The constant program delays and slow manufactures in support of opportunities that could be won with quicker responses.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2020
Pros

Motivating people and helping to create success in each person's day. Honor God serve people in rich people's lives, pursue excellence in service.

Cons

Not enough time in each day to get everything accomplished.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Semi-flexible work hours. You have a sales goal and customers to call on in order to achieve said goal, so you have some flexibility of your schedule.

Cons

The amount of travel required takes you away from home frequently. If you have a family, being away starts taking a toll on them and work/life balance suffers.


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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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