Post job

Territory manager vs key account manager

The differences between territory managers and key 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 territory manager and a key account manager. Additionally, a key account manager has an average salary of $102,315, which is higher than the $73,728 average annual salary of a territory manager.

The top three skills for a territory manager include customer service, patients and product knowledge. The most important skills for a key account manager are account management, customer service, and patients.

Territory manager vs key account manager overview

Territory ManagerKey Account Manager
Yearly salary$73,728$102,315
Hourly rate$35.45$49.19
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs106,325160,992
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Average age4646
Years of experience88

What does a territory manager do?

A territory manager is responsible for monitoring the sales operations of the different sales team of an organization. One of the most crucial duties of a territory manager is to encourage the sales team to provide the best results for increasing the company's profitability. Territory managers are conducting sales training, improving marketing strategies and approach, reviewing sales pitches, analyzing current market trends, and reaching sales goals. Territory managers must display exceptional leadership and customer service skills to manage customers' needs and identify more business opportunities.

What does a key account manager do?

A key account manager is primarily in charge of handling key clients that produce the most profit for a company or business, ensuring that they remain with them. They are mainly responsible for understanding their clients' needs and long-term goals, ensuring that the key clients get to receive all the necessary services and products in time, and promptly address and resolve any issues and concerns. Furthermore, a key account manager may prepare reports and proposals to team members, all while adhering to the company's policies and standards.

Territory manager vs key account manager salary

Territory managers and key account managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Territory ManagerKey Account Manager
Average salary$73,728$102,315
Salary rangeBetween $46,000 And $117,000Between $75,000 And $138,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaMaine
Best paying companyFUJIFILM Diosynth BiotechnologiesQuidel
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalPharmaceutical

Differences between territory manager and key account manager education

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

Territory ManagerKey Account Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 78%Bachelor's Degree, 78%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Territory manager vs key account manager demographics

Here are the differences between territory managers' and key account managers' demographics:

Territory ManagerKey Account Manager
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 71.3% Female, 28.7%Male, 68.1% Female, 31.9%
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 territory manager and key account manager duties and responsibilities

Territory manager example responsibilities.

  • Achieve MVP in Q3 2003 and Q1 through Q4 2004.
  • Manage promotional budgets focusing on high ROI events, thus increasing sales at lower promotional cost.
  • Manage all aspects of TM specification, sales, order management and delivery of customer's orders.
  • Generate leads through internet research, marketing, trade show participation, internal department cross-selling, and referrals.
  • Manage all aspects of SalesForce CRM integration and administration throughout the entire sales department
  • Achieve profitable relationships with current and prospective customers by providing exceptional customer support through attentiveness and extensive product knowledge.
  • Show more

Key account manager example responsibilities.

  • Lead the KAM division in market share expansion and activation for SWS portfolio.
  • Develop and manage GPO partnerships and new relationships in preparation of new product launch.
  • Utilize IRI reporting (CPGN) to deliver key category insights to customer base in order to effectively manage category decisions.
  • Manage company CRM implementation leading to increase sales profitability and customer satisfaction.
  • Provide managed care expertise to industry leading system developers to create web-base solutions for healthcare revenue cycle.
  • Manage services including contract logistics, distribution, and inbound logistics and shipping brokerage along with various additional transportation solutions.
  • Show more

Territory manager vs key account manager skills

Common territory manager skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Product Knowledge, 7%
  • Work Ethic, 7%
  • CRM, 5%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%
Common key account manager skills
  • Account Management, 10%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Patients, 6%
  • CRM, 6%
  • Customer Relationships, 5%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 5%

Browse executive management jobs