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Retail representative vs account executive

The differences between retail representatives and account executives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an account executive has an average salary of $69,618, which is higher than the $31,790 average annual salary of a retail representative.

The top three skills for a retail representative include flexibility, store management and certification programs. The most important skills for an account executive are customer service, CRM, and healthcare.

Retail representative vs account executive overview

Retail RepresentativeAccount Executive
Yearly salary$31,790$69,618
Hourly rate$15.28$33.47
Growth rate-5%
Number of jobs402,132205,561
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4144
Years of experience--

What does a retail representative do?

A retail representative is in charge of assisting customers with their shopping needs in retail stores, ensuring customer satisfaction. Their responsibilities include greeting customers and identifying their needs, answering inquiries, locating products, offering promotions and recommendations, and conducting demonstrations when possible. There are also instances where they must process payments or refunds. Furthermore, as a retail representative, it is essential to arrange products on shelves to make it look attractive to customers, all while maintaining the cleanliness of the sales floor.

What does an account executive do?

An account executive is responsible for supporting existing clients, closing client deals, and developing sales strategies to increase the company's sales and satisfaction. An account executive must be competitive enough to keep up with the constant changes in the sales industry, including the high demands of digital marketing, a different approach to product advertising, effective negotiation, and presentation skills. An account executive also requires excellent communication skills for the successful acquisition of client accounts and immediately resolve possible complaints as they arise.

Retail representative vs account executive salary

Retail representatives and account executives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Retail RepresentativeAccount Executive
Average salary$31,790$69,618
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $38,000Between $44,000 And $109,000
Highest paying City-Portland, OR
Highest paying state-Oregon
Best paying company-Hitachi Vantara
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between retail representative and account executive education

There are a few differences between a retail representative and an account executive in terms of educational background:

Retail RepresentativeAccount Executive
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-University of Pennsylvania

Retail representative vs account executive demographics

Here are the differences between retail representatives' and account executives' demographics:

Retail RepresentativeAccount Executive
Average age4144
Gender ratioMale, 43.6% Female, 56.4%Male, 57.2% Female, 42.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.8% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.6% White, 66.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage7%5%

Differences between retail representative and account executive duties and responsibilities

Retail representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage Nintendo's promotional programs; secure and maintain point-of-purchase displays that alert customers to brand availability.
  • Execute the proper POS in accounts, particularly with products on sale.
  • Befriend category managers and backroom personnel to positively impact on OSA, POS placement, and other sell-in tactics.
  • Educate consumers about products and services and troubleshoot any existing customer concerns relate to service or equipment.
  • Collaborate with board members to prepare PowerPoint presentations and other written reports and present concepts to management.

Account executive example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage Facebook and twitter accounts.
  • Have achieve Google certification for both SEM and SEO sales.
  • Lead proposal team in winning a $1MM RFP, turning around a key account relationship.
  • Manage all aspects of new FedEx implementations (automation set-up, operational support and training of customers).
  • Develop and manage networking, VoIP, IP/TV, video, cloud, wireless, and security/disaster recovery projects.
  • Source all leads by means of cold calling, leveraging linkedin, referrals, and upselling to existing customers.
  • Show more

Retail representative vs account executive skills

Common retail representative skills
  • Flexibility, 36%
  • Store Management, 36%
  • Certification Programs, 11%
  • PET, 7%
  • Customer Service, 2%
  • Product Knowledge, 1%
Common account executive skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Healthcare, 5%
  • Sales Process, 5%
  • Salesforce, 4%
  • Work Ethic, 4%