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The differences between key account managers and category managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a key account manager, becoming a category manager takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a key account manager has an average salary of $102,315, which is higher than the $102,035 average annual salary of a category manager.
The top three skills for a key account manager include account management, customer service and patients. The most important skills for a category manager are strategic sourcing, category strategy, and supplier performance.
| Key Account Manager | Category Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $102,315 | $102,035 |
| Hourly rate | $49.19 | $49.06 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 160,992 | 108,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 46 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 10 |
A key account manager is primarily in charge of handling key clients that produce the most profit for a company or business, ensuring that they remain with them. They are mainly responsible for understanding their clients' needs and long-term goals, ensuring that the key clients get to receive all the necessary services and products in time, and promptly address and resolve any issues and concerns. Furthermore, a key account manager may prepare reports and proposals to team members, all while adhering to the company's policies and standards.
Category managers are usually employed in the retail industry. They are primarily responsible for the sales enhancement of a specific group of products. The managers are involved in pricing, marketing, inventory, and vendor management. Their daily tasks include meeting with suppliers to talk about the plans, conducting orientation to the market research company, and updating category reports. Qualified applicants must have a degree in business administration or a related field as well as relevant job experience in a related job.
Key account managers and category managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Key Account Manager | Category Manager | |
| Average salary | $102,315 | $102,035 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $138,000 | Between $74,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Quidel | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a key account manager and a category manager in terms of educational background:
| Key Account Manager | Category Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between key account managers' and category managers' demographics:
| Key Account Manager | Category Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.1% Female, 31.9% | Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 10% |