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Sales manager vs sales account manager

The differences between 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 sales manager and a sales account manager. Additionally, a sales manager has an average salary of $73,952, which is higher than the $58,630 average annual salary of a sales account manager.

The top three skills for a sales manager include product knowledge, customer satisfaction and sales performance. The most important skills for a sales account manager are customer service, CRM, and customer satisfaction.

Sales manager vs sales account manager overview

Sales ManagerSales Account Manager
Yearly salary$73,952$58,630
Hourly rate$35.55$28.19
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs119,066163,697
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a sales manager do?

Sales managers are responsible for leading the organization's sales team. They oversee the progress and performance of the whole team, set area assignments to team members, and set weekly or monthly quotas. Sales managers oversee training team members during onboarding and providing further coaching to help them achieve their goals. They manage the challenges that team members may meet and help mitigate any problems that come along the way. Sales managers also set the strategic direction of the sales team and follow through by ensuring that the team's activities are in line with the goals.

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.

Sales manager vs sales account manager salary

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

Sales ManagerSales Account Manager
Average salary$73,952$58,630
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $129,000Between $33,000 And $101,000
Highest paying CityJersey City, NJSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyHawaii
Best paying companyCapgeminiGoogle
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between sales manager and sales account manager education

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

Sales ManagerSales Account Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Sales manager vs sales account manager demographics

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

Sales ManagerSales Account Manager
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 68.7% Female, 31.3%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 sales manager and sales account manager duties and responsibilities

Sales manager example responsibilities.

  • Achieve proficiency in multitasking by performing multiple duties and managing differing responsibilities periodically.
  • Manage discount contracts, write up of add-ons, renewals, transfers of equities.
  • Manage and support one of the largest portfolios within the division and the largest in the Americas.
  • Manage website, updating product listings, enhancing SEO positioning, and maintaining overall site appearance and functionality.
  • Launch and manage the Americas outsourcing lead generation and qualification process.
  • Set all promotional activity, introduce new items and manage distributors in select markets.
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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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Sales manager vs sales account manager skills

Common sales manager skills
  • Product Knowledge, 12%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 7%
  • Sales Performance, 6%
  • CRM, 5%
  • Sales Process, 4%
  • Work Ethic, 4%
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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