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Route sales manager vs sales account manager

The differences between route sales managers and sales 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 route sales manager and a sales account manager. Additionally, a sales account manager has an average salary of $58,630, which is higher than the $48,830 average annual salary of a route sales manager.

The top three skills for a route sales manager include food service, sales territory and sales route. The most important skills for a sales account manager are customer service, CRM, and customer satisfaction.

Route sales manager vs sales account manager overview

Route Sales ManagerSales Account Manager
Yearly salary$48,830$58,630
Hourly rate$23.48$28.19
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs112,342163,697
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a route sales manager do?

A route sales manager is responsible for monitoring the performance of the sales staff within their designated areas, ensuring the adherence to sales goals and objectives efficiently, and providing the highest satisfaction to the customers. Route sales managers develop strategic procedures for marketing campaigns, identifying business opportunities to generate more revenue resources, and increase the company's profitability. They also conduct sales training and programs for the staff to maximize productivity and enhance their sales skills. A route sales manager analyzes sales reports and evaluates customers' needs by studying market trends.

What does a sales account manager do?

The account sales manager is in charge of the retention of their customer relationship. They have to supervise the portfolio of existing clients, develop new business with them, and seek new sales opportunities. Account sales managers act as liaisons between the company and customer as well as build strong, long-lasting relationships by providing an improved customer experience. It is their responsibility to negotiate contracts and close deals to maximize sales profits. Also, they forecast track sales results and prepare reports on account status.

Route sales manager vs sales account manager salary

Route sales managers and sales account managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Route Sales ManagerSales Account Manager
Average salary$48,830$58,630
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $56,000Between $33,000 And $101,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Hawaii
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between route sales manager and sales account manager education

There are a few differences between a route sales manager and a sales account manager in terms of educational background:

Route Sales ManagerSales Account Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Route sales manager vs sales account manager demographics

Here are the differences between route sales managers' and sales account managers' demographics:

Route Sales ManagerSales Account Manager
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 93.7% Female, 6.3%Male, 63.4% Female, 36.6%
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 route sales manager and sales account manager duties and responsibilities

Route sales manager example responsibilities.

  • Prospect and cold-cal commercial locations, building relationships with distributors and manufacturer representatives to leverage internal leads.
  • Maintain medical card and CDL license.
  • Obtain a CDL license and drive a truck with a fifth wheel trailer and maintain that vehicle effectively.
  • Represent a complete line of paper and janitorial supplies to wholesale distributors, service established accounts and develop new business partners.
  • Develop & execute DSD system including tracking and development tools.
  • Create marketing content for pages and promotional initiatives, newsletter design and implementation, create designed and produce PowerPoint presentations.

Sales account manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage RFQ/RFP responses to telecommunication, government and utility customers utilizing CRM system to manage customers.
  • Recruit to develop and manage new sales territory selling MRO industrial goods and services to existing and potential customers.
  • Manage and coordinate daily sales activities through target cold calling and telemarketing.
  • Organize and maintain existing national clients for process refrigeration and HVAC maintenance and service.
  • Maintain database, create mailers, and work in SalesForce to determine new possible clients.
  • Founded in 1935 ATD has grown from a regional family-own company to a successful nationwide distribution enterprise.
  • Show more

Route sales manager vs sales account manager skills

Common route sales manager skills
  • Food Service, 46%
  • Sales Territory, 24%
  • Sales Route, 5%
  • Delivery Route, 4%
  • CDL, 4%
  • Ecolab, 2%
Common sales account manager skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • CRM, 8%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
  • Account Management, 5%
  • Product Knowledge, 4%
  • Business Development, 4%

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