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The differences between associate customer service representatives and customer care associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an associate customer service representative and a customer care associate. Additionally, an associate customer service representative has an average salary of $35,215, which is higher than the $33,115 average annual salary of a customer care associate.
The top three skills for an associate customer service representative include patients, outbound calls and customer inquiries. The most important skills for a customer care associate are customer care, patients, and customer service.
| Associate Customer Service Representative | Customer Care Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $35,215 | $33,115 |
| Hourly rate | $16.93 | $15.92 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 199,751 | 250,296 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An associate customer service representative is responsible for providing high customer service by assisting customers on their inquiries and concerns, as well as resolving and escalating high-level complaints to the supervisor or tenured customer service representative. Associate customer service representatives also process orders and payments from the customers, replacing defective items, and issuing refunds as needed. They must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on handling data processing procedures to the database for reference to customer concerns.
A customer care associate's role focuses on providing customer support and service, ensuring optimal services and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities typically revolve around assisting walk-in customers by answering inquiries, offering recommendations or alternatives, and informing them of any promos or discounts. It is essential to devise strategies to identify customer needs, providing them as needed. Furthermore, a customer care associate may answer inquiries made through calls or correspondence, make reservations, handle complaints or concerns, and resolve them according to the company's policies and regulations.
Associate customer service representatives and customer care associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Associate Customer Service Representative | Customer Care Associate | |
| Average salary | $35,215 | $33,115 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $46,000 | Between $24,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Deutsche Bank | Centennial Bank |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Insurance |
There are a few differences between an associate customer service representative and a customer care associate in terms of educational background:
| Associate Customer Service Representative | Customer Care Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between associate customer service representatives' and customer care associates' demographics:
| Associate Customer Service Representative | Customer Care Associate | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9% | Male, 30.1% Female, 69.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 6.4% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |