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The differences between key account representatives and key account managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a key account representative, becoming a key account manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a key account manager has an average salary of $102,315, which is higher than the $48,841 average annual salary of a key account representative.
The top three skills for a key account representative include business development, account management and product knowledge. The most important skills for a key account manager are account management, customer service, and patients.
| Key Account Representative | Key Account Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $48,841 | $102,315 |
| Hourly rate | $23.48 | $49.19 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 236,207 | 160,992 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 8 |
A key account representative identifies opportunities for increasing sales and defines outreach strategies. Key account representatives find, develop, and maintain customer accounts. The account representatives serve as the main point of contact between an organization and its clients. They make regular communication with the clients, address their concerns, and track their transactions and payments. Part of their job is to present expanded and new opportunities to the clients. They have to be adaptable and have empathy in performing their job. Among the skills they need to develop include people or communication skills, relationship building, and time management.
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.
Key account representatives and key account managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Key Account Representative | Key Account Manager | |
| Average salary | $48,841 | $102,315 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $69,000 | Between $75,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | Maine |
| Best paying company | - | Quidel |
| Best paying industry | - | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between a key account representative and a key account manager in terms of educational background:
| Key Account Representative | Key Account Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 78% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between key account representatives' and key account managers' demographics:
| Key Account Representative | Key Account Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.3% Female, 47.7% | Male, 68.1% Female, 31.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.7% 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 | 6% | 7% |