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Relationship account manager vs key account manager

The differences between relationship account managers and key account managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a relationship account manager and a key account manager. Additionally, a key account manager has an average salary of $102,315, which is higher than the $65,213 average annual salary of a relationship account manager.

The top three skills for a relationship account manager include account management, CRM and business development. The most important skills for a key account manager are account management, customer service, and patients.

Relationship account manager vs key account manager overview

Relationship Account ManagerKey Account Manager
Yearly salary$65,213$102,315
Hourly rate$31.35$49.19
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs149,358160,992
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a relationship account manager do?

Relationship Account Managers help financial service organizations oversee sales and nourish their relationship with the assigned clients. They are assigned to clients depending on the service needs, product needs, industry, and geography. These professionals ensure the products or services perform to expectations by engaging with the assigned clients. They launch other groups' complementary products or services and recommend new services or products. Also, they ensure new accounts generate more sales revenue by contacting new potential clients.

What does a key account manager do?

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.

Relationship account manager vs key account manager salary

Relationship account managers and key account managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Relationship Account ManagerKey Account Manager
Average salary$65,213$102,315
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $91,000Between $75,000 And $138,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkMaine
Best paying companyAdobeQuidel
Best paying industryFinancePharmaceutical

Differences between relationship account manager and key account manager education

There are a few differences between a relationship account manager and a key account manager in terms of educational background:

Relationship Account ManagerKey Account Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Relationship account manager vs key account manager demographics

Here are the differences between relationship account managers' and key account managers' demographics:

Relationship Account ManagerKey Account Manager
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 52.9% Female, 47.1%Male, 68.1% Female, 31.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between relationship account manager and key account manager duties and responsibilities

Relationship account manager example responsibilities.

  • Negotiate all pricing and promotional offerings while managing to yield and ROI goals.
  • Utilize CRM system to manage, facilitate and document projects and tasks in technology planning efforts.
  • Manage a national merchant retail portfolio.
  • Perform cost-benefit and ROI analyses and prepare lead retrieval systems to ensure proper collection and aid management in future implementation decisions.
  • Grow existing customer base by upselling and cross-selling additional products and services, negotiating service agreement renewals, and controlling inventory.

Key account manager example 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.
  • Show more

Relationship account manager vs key account manager skills

Common relationship account manager skills
  • Account Management, 14%
  • CRM, 10%
  • Business Development, 9%
  • Client Relationships, 7%
  • Sales Goal, 4%
  • Client Issues, 4%
Common key account manager skills
  • Account Management, 10%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Patients, 6%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Customer Relationships, 5%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 5%

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