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Senior channel manager vs category manager

The differences between senior channel managers and category managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both a senior channel manager and a category manager. Additionally, a senior channel manager has an average salary of $142,754, which is higher than the $102,035 average annual salary of a category manager.

The top three skills for a senior channel manager include channel marketing, digital marketing and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for a category manager are strategic sourcing, category strategy, and supplier performance.

Senior channel manager vs category manager overview

Senior Channel ManagerCategory Manager
Yearly salary$142,754$102,035
Hourly rate$68.63$49.06
Growth rate10%10%
Number of jobs68,002108,424
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age3939
Years of experience1010

What does a senior channel manager do?

A senior channel manager is someone who focuses on channel sales and marketing to clients and customers. The channel manager acts as part of a company's middle management branch that coordinates with all concerning sales through channel marketing. The channel manager monitors and analyzes all information on channel sales, communications with clients and customers in all company channels, improve relationships, and build trust. In companies with different marketing channels, this position is crucial, and a person with channel marketing expertise is highly preferred.

What does a category manager do?

Category managers are usually employed in the retail industry. They are primarily responsible for the sales enhancement of a specific group of products. The managers are involved in pricing, marketing, inventory, and vendor management. Their daily tasks include meeting with suppliers to talk about the plans, conducting orientation to the market research company, and updating category reports. Qualified applicants must have a degree in business administration or a related field as well as relevant job experience in a related job.

Senior channel manager vs category manager salary

Senior channel managers and category managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Channel ManagerCategory Manager
Average salary$142,754$102,035
Salary rangeBetween $99,000 And $205,000Between $74,000 And $138,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNevada
Best paying companyLevi Strauss & Co.McKinsey & Company Inc
Best paying industryStart-upManufacturing

Differences between senior channel manager and category manager education

There are a few differences between a senior channel manager and a category manager in terms of educational background:

Senior Channel ManagerCategory Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 76%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia

Senior channel manager vs category manager demographics

Here are the differences between senior channel managers' and category managers' demographics:

Senior Channel ManagerCategory Manager
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 58.7% Female, 41.3%Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between senior channel manager and category manager duties and responsibilities

Senior channel manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead cross-functional teams in building business plans; team with e-commerce and merchant leadership to justify ROI.
  • Design and manage marketing initiatives and activities including company- sponsor events around a reseller, product, or customer territory.
  • Inspire and successfully lead volume channel point-of-sale (POS) attach transformation.
  • Include ownership of ROI analysis and executive metric scorecards for both campaigns and channel partner co-fund investment programs.
  • Develop short-term incentives to support campaigns and promotions design to capture mind share and increase POS in target accounts.
  • Design complex IP telephony solutions including integration with other telecommunication manufacturer's equipment and adhering to day-to-day business processes.
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Category manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead team to manage predominantly seasonal fashion apparel by reacting to trends with appropriate buys and proactive exit strategies.
  • Manage and create purchase plans and OTB's.
  • Design and manage all BTL plans for the brands.
  • Manage multiple sources of data to mine for business voids and opportunities at both macro and micro levels.
  • Deliver profit and sales forecasts, manage merchandising budget, and used IRI data to produce optimal product mix.
  • Lead a high performance jewelry merchandising team in a digital commerce environment through television, e-commerce, and social media.
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Senior channel manager vs category manager skills

Common senior channel manager skills
  • Channel Marketing, 13%
  • Digital Marketing, 9%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 7%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • CRM, 4%
  • Cloud, 4%
Common category manager skills
  • Strategic Sourcing, 8%
  • Category Strategy, 8%
  • Supplier Performance, 5%
  • Supplier Relationships, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Cost Savings, 4%

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