How to hire a key account manager

How to hire a key account manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step key account manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a key account manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new key account manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a key account manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the key account manager you need to hire. Certain key account manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A key account manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, key account managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of key account managers.

   Type of Key Account Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Key Account Manager	Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for organizations’ sales representatives.	$36-66
   Product Manager/Sales	A sales product manager is responsible for monitoring the sales performance of a specific product and ensuring that the marketing strategies adhere to market standards and client requirements. Sales product managers work closely with the marketing and public relations team to enhance the product's brand image on various market platforms to reach the target audience... Show more	$36-75
   Outside Sales Manager	An outside sales manager is responsible for monitoring the sales staff performance in selling goods and services to existing and potential clients and ensuring that the team meets sales objectives. Outside sales managers set reasonable sales targets and establish techniques to maximize the staff's efficiency and productivity... Show more	$24-66

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Account Management
   • Customer Service
   • Patients
   • CRM
   • Customer Relationships
   • Excellent Interpersonal
   • KAM
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Business Development
   • Work Ethic
   • Project Management
   • Distributors
   • Sales Territory
   • Strong Analytical

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the KAM division in market share expansion and activation for SWS portfolio.
   • Develop and manage GPO partnerships and new relationships in preparation of new product launch.
   • Utilize IRI reporting (CPGN) to deliver key category insights to customer base in order to effectively manage category decisions.
   • Manage company CRM implementation leading to increase sales profitability and customer satisfaction.
   • Provide managed care expertise to industry leading system developers to create web-base solutions for healthcare revenue cycle.
   • Manage services including contract logistics, distribution, and inbound logistics and shipping brokerage along with various additional transportation solutions.

   More key account manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your key account manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A key account manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, key account managers' average salary in missouri is 38% less than in maine.
   • Seniority. Entry-level key account managers earn 46% less than senior-level key account managers.
   • Certifications. A key account manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a key account manager's salary.

   Average key account manager salary

   $102,315yearly

   $49.19 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level key account manager salary

   $75,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average key account manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$128,043	$62
   2	Washington	$114,805	$55
   3	New York	$113,997	$55
   4	Massachusetts	$113,770	$55
   5	Pennsylvania	$111,238	$53
   6	New Jersey	$109,458	$53
   7	Virginia	$107,351	$52
   8	District of Columbia	$107,188	$52
   9	Michigan	$105,530	$51
   10	West Virginia	$105,268	$51
   11	Utah	$104,204	$50
   12	Ohio	$102,332	$49
   13	Arizona	$101,983	$49
   14	Illinois	$101,258	$49
   15	Oregon	$100,038	$48
   16	North Carolina	$98,385	$47
   17	Louisiana	$95,726	$46
   18	Texas	$95,094	$46
   19	Minnesota	$93,857	$45
   20	South Carolina	$91,764	$44

   Average key account manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Quidel	$140,153	$67.38
   2	Legalmatch.com	$136,369	$65.56	10
   3	Sumo Logic	$134,149	$64.49	9
   4	eBay	$134,141	$64.49	2
   5	Rohde & Schwarz	$131,003	$62.98
   6	Bunge	$128,611	$61.83	7
   7	Wind River	$127,897	$61.49
   8	Boehringer Ingelheim	$127,197	$61.15	24
   9	Renesas Electronics	$126,787	$60.96	3
   10	Bristol-Myers Squibb	$124,450	$59.83	1
   11	LinkedIn	$124,032	$59.63	30
   12	PennWell	$122,647	$58.96
   13	Elanco	$120,620	$57.99	6
   14	Agilent Technologies	$120,594	$57.98	9
   15	Amgen	$120,565	$57.96	99
   16	Udemy	$119,104	$57.26	2
   17	Baker Hughes	$118,921	$57.17	20
   18	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.	$118,781	$57.11	43
   19	Sanofi US	$118,243	$56.85	59
   20	World Fuel Services	$117,806	$56.64	1

4. Writing a key account manager job description

   A key account manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a key account manager job description:

   Key account manager job description example

   Here at Avis Budget Group we're more than just rentals-although over 70 years of experience and 11,000 locations in 180 countries has taught us a thing or two about that. We're shaping the future of the mobility industry with our innovative, customer-focused solutions. Our globally recognized brands - Avis, Budget, Budget Truck and Zipcar - connect people to more. This means more convenience, more options and more time on the road for our customers. But we also connect our employees to more: opportunities, benefits, support, collaboration and most importantly-power to change the future. Sound your speed? Come join our family.
   
   Avis Budget Group is looking for an Account Manager for their Global Travel and Partnerships team. Account Manager will be responsible for a portfolio including Associations, Financial Partners, Hotels and Employee Benefit companies. This role builds strong and lasting relationships with existing partners to help Avis Budget Group's business grow year over year.
   What you'll do:
   Manage, grow and develop your assigned portfolio of leisure accounts, and maintain projected revenue targets. Build and maintain relationships with accounts, as well internal stakeholders. Identity and implement growth opportunities, and coordinate with Marketing and Pricing on launching strategic opportunities. Negotiate contract renewals. Manage the day-to-day relationship with account, including the customer service, billing, marketing, and reporting inquiries from accounts. Lead business reviews, and strategic planning sessions with accounts. Evaluate existing partnerships and determine actions to optimize performance and cost of sale
   
   What we're looking for:
   2-4 year experience in Account Management role is preferred Bachelor's Degree Driven, self-motivated with ability to work independently Ability to manage internal and external relationships effectively Analytical skills Strong written and verbal communication skills Experience in Salesforce to track and report sales activity Strong prioritization skills Tableau experience is a plus Minimum travel of 20% is required.
   
   Perks you'll get:
   Clear and defined career paths to pursue. Access to Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance. Eligible to elect other voluntary benefits including Group Legal, Identity Theft, Accident Insurance, FSA, additional life insurance coverages. Contribute up to $260 as a tax-free benefit for public transportation or parking expenses. 401(k) Retirement Plan with company matched contributions. Full training to learn the business and enhance professional skills. Employee discounts, including discounted prices on the purchase of Avis/Budget cars. Access to an Employee Assistance Program for services including counseling, financial and legal consultation, referrals for care service, and more.
   
   Avis Budget Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
   
   Parsippany
   
   New Jersey
   
   United States of America

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find key account managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any key account managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level key account managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your key account manager job on Zippia to find and recruit key account manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting key account managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new key account manager

   Once you've selected the best key account manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new key account manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a key account manager?