Salaries/Sales Manager vs Account Executive

Sales Manager vs Account Executive Salary

Side-by-side 2026 salary comparison across entry-level, mid-level, and senior pay for Sales Manager and Account Executive roles in the US.

Bottom line (mid-level, US median)

Account Executives earn $24,000 (20% more) than Sales Managers on average.

Sales Manager vs Account Executive by City

LocationSales Manager (Mid)Account Executive (Mid)Difference
New York$128K$160K$-32K
Los Angeles$115K$144K$-29K
Chicago$105K$131K$-26K
Dallas$100K$125K$-25K
Houston$99K$124K$-25K
Washington D.C.$120K$150K$-30K
Philadelphia$102K$128K$-26K
Atlanta$100K$125K$-25K

Sales

Sales Manager

Lead sales teams, set targets, develop strategies, and close enterprise deals.

See Sales Manager salaries in all cities →

Sales

Account Executive

Own a quota and close net-new revenue with mid-market and enterprise customers.

See Account Executive salaries in all cities →
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