Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of sales associate and customer services that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of sales associate and customer services:
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Customer Service Expert is the highest-paid type of sales associate and customer service with an average salary of $99,957 and an average hourly rate of $48.06.
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The second highest-paying type of sales associate and customer service is sales and service associate, with an average salary of $55,256.
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The average sales associate and customer service salary is $28,654 per year, and the average hourly pay is $13.78.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a sales associate and customer service, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of sales associate and customer services are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of sales associate and customer services:
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Customer Service Expert
Average Salary: $99,957
A customer service expert is responsible for providing excellent customer by responding to the customers’ inquiries and concerns regarding the goods and services the company offers. Customer service experts also handle and escalate high-level complaints, processing order replacements, and issuing refunds as needed. They check customer accounts, resolve billing issues, and monitor product delivery details. A customer service expert must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially the knowledge of sales techniques, to sell services that would increase the company’s revenues and profitability.
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Sales And Service Associate
Average Salary: $55,256
A sales and service associate is responsible for selling goods and services for the customers and help them with their purchasing needs. Sales and service associates respond to the customers’ inquiries and concerns, recommend products according to the customers’ specifications, and ensure that the stocks are adequately filled. They also help management in identifying business opportunities from the current industry trends that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company’s sales and profits.
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Customer Sales Representative
Average Salary: $38,744
The primary role of customer service representatives is to help customers with questions and complaints. It is also their duties and responsibilities to provide customers with information about services and products, take and process orders, and process returns and modifications. They also store records of customer transactions and interactions and provide feedback on customer service efficacy. Customer service representatives must also ensure that they can give customer satisfaction and offer the best professional support.
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Service Associate
Average Salary: $38,712
A service associate’s role is to assist customers either through phone or in person. One of the service associate’s primary responsibilities is to attain customer satisfaction by answering queries, performing troubleshooting methods, assisting in navigating through difficult tasks, handling complaints, resolving issues, and even processing payments. Furthermore, a service associate needs to be equipped with good communication skills to build rapport with clients as there are instances where they have to sell products and services.
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Customer Sales Associate
Average Salary: $37,024
A customer sales associate specializes in handling and communicating with customers to secure sales in a retail store. Their primary responsibilities revolve around greeting clients, responding to inquiries, providing assistance, and even offering suggestions when necessary. Aside from ensuring customer satisfaction, it is also their responsibility to maintain the cleanliness and order on the sales floor by re-stocking shelves and arranging them to look presentable. Furthermore, a customer sales associate must coordinate with other sales floor members and report to a manager or supervisor.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various sales associate and customer service that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Sales Associate And Customer Services
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for sales associate and customer services.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Sales Associate And Customer Service Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid sales associate and customer service job?
The highest-paid sales associate and customer service job is a customer service expert. Customer Service Experts earn an average salary of $99,957, which is $ 48.06 hourly.
A customer service expert is responsible for providing excellent customer by responding to the customers’ inquiries and concerns regarding the goods and services the company offers. Customer service experts also handle and escalate high-level complaints, processing order replacements, and issuing refunds as needed. They check customer accounts, resolve billing issues, and monitor product delivery details. A customer service expert must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially the knowledge of sales techniques, to sell services that would increase the company’s revenues and profitability.
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What is a good salary for a sales associate and customer service?
A good salary for a sales associate and customer service is $28,654 or more. The average sales associate and customer service salary is $28,654, so those making at least $28,654 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average sales associate and customer service salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a sales associate and customer service, the average entry level salary is $17,365, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $28,654 average, as this includes all sales associate and customer services of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Sales Associate And Customer Service jobs pay well?
No, sales associate and customer service jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some sales associate and customer service jobs pay better than others, but the average sales associate and customer service salary of $28,654 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many sales associate and customer service jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of sales associate and customer services earning $44,783 a year on average.
Sales Associate And Customer Services’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a sales associate and customer service. Do your research on the going rate for a sales associate and customer service in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do sales associate and customer services get paid the most?
Sales Associate And Customer Services get paid the most in New Hampshire. In New Hampshire, sales associate and customer services earn an average annual salary of $30,997 and an average hourly wage of $14.90.
Following NH, the states with the highest-paid sales associate and customer services are Connecticut, Maine, and Illinois, with average annual salaries of $33,200, $28,942, and $28,694 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid sales associate and customer service salaries are:
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Bellevue, WA – $32,411
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Albany, OR – $32,248
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San Jose, CA – $31,324
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
