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The differences between retail sales managers and 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 retail sales manager and an account manager. Additionally, an account manager has an average salary of $68,535, which is higher than the $48,678 average annual salary of a retail sales manager.
The top three skills for a retail sales manager include retail sales, store operations and store sales. The most important skills for an account manager are customer service, account management, and healthcare.
| Retail Sales Manager | Account Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $48,678 | $68,535 |
| Hourly rate | $23.40 | $32.95 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 353,765 | 152,261 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
A retail sales manager is responsible for managing the retail sales department's operations, ensuring the highest customer satisfaction with the staff's efficiency and performance. Retail sales managers develop sales strategies and marketing campaigns to boost revenues, increasing the company's profitability. They also conduct training and programs for staff to maximize their productivity and provide the best customer service for their clients. A retail sales manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, respond to the customers' inquiries and concerns, and resolve their complaints.
Account managers are employees who act as the bridge between the company they represent and the client of the company. They are assigned to handle specific clients so that the company will be able to tailor-fit any product or service according to the clients' requirements. Account managers are responsible for maintaining a harmonious relationship between the two parties by ensuring that any agreement made is amenable to both the company and the client. They are also responsible for ensuring that the company will be able to provide the needs of the client within any limitation that the client may have. Account managers also ensure that the company's reputation and well-being are always considered in any dealings.
Retail sales managers and account managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retail Sales Manager | Account Manager | |
| Average salary | $48,678 | $68,535 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $66,000 | Between $42,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Washington |
| Best paying company | Talbots | NVIDIA |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a retail sales manager and an account manager in terms of educational background:
| Retail Sales Manager | Account Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between retail sales managers' and account managers' demographics:
| Retail Sales Manager | Account Manager | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.2% Female, 38.8% | Male, 54.8% Female, 45.2% |
| 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, 3.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.1% White, 78.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |