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Sales account manager

Also called sales coordinator, relations manager, key account manager

Sales account managers serve as intermediators between clients and the organisation, managing both sales and long term relations with the client. They have knowledge about products and services and develop contracts with customers.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects19 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Hospitality, retail and other services managersWhat does it pay?Well above averageFrom about €2,600 (Romania) to €10,300 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Hospitality, retail and other services managersWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree.Hospitality, retail and other services managersWill AI change it?ModeratelyLevel 4 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Retail and wholesale trade managers · ILO

What you'd do

Retail and wholesale trade managers · ILO
  • Determining product mix, stock levels and service standards
  • Formulating and implementing purchasing and marketing policies, and setting prices
  • Promoting and advertising the establishment‚Äôs goods and services
  • Maintaining records of stock levels and financial transactions
  • Undertaking budgeting for the establishment
  • Controlling selection, training and supervision of staff
  • Ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety regulations
Maximise sales revenuesStudy sales levels of productsEnsure client orientationProduce sales reportsForecast account metrics+ 11 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Varied tasks, little repetition
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Sales Managers"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as hospitality, retail and other services managers in the EU
2.49m2.88m2.62m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
721,000 replacing leavers 200,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Hospitality, retail and other services managers19
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of retail and wholesale trade managers, 8 a surplus.
Retail and wholesale trade managers · EURES

What does it pay?

Well above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,600 a month (Romania) to €10,300 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among managers in the EU, women earn 27% less per hour than men. Managers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in law is the usual route.

Highest qualification of hospitality, retail and other services managers (EU, 2025)
Degree 36%Vocational 33%General secondary 15%Basic schooling 16%
Fields that teach it
Law · Wholesale and retail sales
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field
Business and law graduates in a matching job
66% in the EU

1,314 institutions in the EU offer business and law bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Moderately

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.44 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 7 tasks
Promoting and advertising the establishment’s goods and services0.64
Maintaining records of stock levels and financial transactions0.60
Undertaking budgeting for the establishment0.48
Formulating and implementing purchasing and marketing policies, and setting prices0.43
Determining product mix, stock levels and service standards0.36
Controlling selection, training and supervision of staff0.28
Ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety regulations0.26

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for retail and wholesale trade managers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).