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Sales account manager vs account executive

The differences between sales account managers 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 $58,630 average annual salary of a sales account manager.

The top three skills for a sales account manager include customer service, CRM and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for an account executive are customer service, CRM, and healthcare.

Sales account manager vs account executive overview

Sales Account ManagerAccount Executive
Yearly salary$58,630$69,618
Hourly rate$28.19$33.47
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs163,697205,561
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4644
Years of experience8-

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.

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.

Sales account manager vs account executive salary

Sales account managers and account executives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Sales Account ManagerAccount Executive
Average salary$58,630$69,618
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $101,000Between $44,000 And $109,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAPortland, OR
Highest paying stateHawaiiOregon
Best paying companyGoogleHitachi Vantara
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between sales account manager and account executive education

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

Sales Account ManagerAccount Executive
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Sales account manager vs account executive demographics

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

Sales Account ManagerAccount Executive
Average age4644
Gender ratioMale, 63.4% Female, 36.6%Male, 57.2% Female, 42.8%
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, 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 sales account manager and account executive duties and responsibilities

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.
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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.
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Sales account manager vs account executive skills

Common sales account manager skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • CRM, 8%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 5%
  • Account Management, 5%
  • Product Knowledge, 4%
  • Business Development, 4%
Common account executive skills
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Healthcare, 5%
  • Sales Process, 5%
  • Salesforce, 4%
  • Work Ethic, 4%

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