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The differences between key account representatives and lead sales representatives 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 lead sales representative takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a lead sales representative has an average salary of $54,079, 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 lead sales representative are cleanliness, customer service, and POS.
| Key Account Representative | Lead Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $48,841 | $54,079 |
| Hourly rate | $23.48 | $26.00 |
| Growth rate | 4% | - |
| Number of jobs | 236,207 | 404,430 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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 lead sales representative is responsible for selling goods and services to existing and potential customers through electronic communications and area visits. Lead sales representatives should be highly-knowledgeable of the products that the company offers to discuss and demonstrate the features to the client accurately. They take orders, process orders, and ensure the correct distribution details according to the customers' specifications. A lead sales representative also monitors the team's sales performance and strategize opportunities to maximize selling techniques and increase profitability.
Key account representatives and lead sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Key Account Representative | Lead Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $48,841 | $54,079 |
| Salary range | Between $34,000 And $69,000 | Between $32,000 And $89,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a key account representative and a lead sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Key Account Representative | Lead Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi |
Here are the differences between key account representatives' and lead sales representatives' demographics:
| Key Account Representative | Lead Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.3% Female, 47.7% | Male, 55.1% Female, 44.9% |
| 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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |