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Sales representative vs account manager

The differences between sales representatives and account managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a sales representative, becoming an account manager takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, an account manager has an average salary of $68,535, which is higher than the $56,591 average annual salary of a sales representative.

The top three skills for a sales representative include sales process, product knowledge and customer service. The most important skills for an account manager are customer service, account management, and healthcare.

Sales representative vs account manager overview

Sales RepresentativeAccount Manager
Yearly salary$56,591$68,535
Hourly rate$27.21$32.95
Growth rate4%5%
Number of jobs205,456152,261
Job satisfaction4.334
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4746
Years of experience48

What does a sales representative do?

Sales representatives primarily sell the company's products and services to businesses or organizations. They should be adept at closing out sales, negotiating, and providing customer service. They should be knowledgeable about the products or services of the manufacturer or producer they represent. They must also have strong analytical skills that would help them in coming up with cost-benefit analysis in assessing the current roster of clients and even prospective ones. Sales representatives should also be able to maintain good working relationships with all involved stakeholders, especially clients.

What does an account manager do?

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.

Sales representative vs account manager salary

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

Sales RepresentativeAccount Manager
Average salary$56,591$68,535
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $94,000Between $42,000 And $110,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsWashington
Best paying companyGoogleNVIDIA
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalTechnology

Differences between sales representative and account manager education

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

Sales RepresentativeAccount Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at AlfredUniversity of Southern California

Sales representative vs account manager demographics

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

Sales RepresentativeAccount Manager
Average age4746
Gender ratioMale, 58.1% Female, 41.9%Male, 54.8% Female, 45.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 5.2% White, 72.5% 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 Percentage6%7%

Differences between sales representative and account manager duties and responsibilities

Sales representative example responsibilities.

  • Manage prospective leads and existing accounts through a CRM platform to accurately forecast revenue and develop long-term business partnerships.
  • Manage and create all content distribute via various social media outlets: Facebook, twitter, feedback blogs, etc.
  • Search for procurement contracts, attend trade shows, design flyers, postcards, etc.
  • Utilize POS sales software to maintain monetary sales information produce reports for organizational review.
  • Develop and maintain business relationships with businesses and policyholders using establish methods such as customer relationship management CRM.
  • Handle administrative and sales duties as Jr.
  • Show more

Account manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage financial departments with responsibility for managing payroll, bank re-consolidations, bank deposits, budgeting and cost control.
  • Manage $4 million territory encompassing three Mid-Atlantic states.
  • Manage new business and renewals for leading Saas legal solution.
  • Manage an inside sales territory of multiple states with Avaya technology solutions.
  • Negotiate and manage all contracts and pricing for IDN's in the territory.
  • Manage customers' accounts utilizing laptop and internet base CMS reporting software and ADM field guide.
  • Show more

Sales representative vs account manager skills

Common sales representative skills
  • Sales Process, 9%
  • Product Knowledge, 9%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Business Development, 6%
  • Sales REP, 5%
Common account manager skills
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Account Management, 8%
  • Healthcare, 6%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Product Knowledge, 5%
  • PowerPoint, 5%