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The differences between call center agents and center specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a call center agent and a center specialist. Additionally, a center specialist has an average salary of $33,648, which is higher than the $31,180 average annual salary of a call center agent.
The top three skills for a call center agent include customer service, strong customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a center specialist are patients, customer service, and necessary paperwork.
| Call Center Agent | Center Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $31,180 | $33,648 |
| Hourly rate | $14.99 | $16.18 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 131,722 | 226,751 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A call center agent is responsible for answering calls and assisting clients by responding to inquiries. They also handle complaints and resolve issues, troubleshoot errors, and process applications. The tasks of a call center agent will vary on the directives of supervisors. There are instances when they must make calls to gather or give information, sell products, and discuss a particular subject. Furthermore, most of the duties take place in a team setting, which is why it is essential to coordinate with colleagues and adhere to the company's policies and regulations at all times.
A call center specialist is an individual who interacts with customers over the phone to ensure smooth transactions and answer customer queries. Call center specialists provide customer service through the phone and handle complaints under the company's guidance and with professionalism and courtesy. They must verify the information for incoming orders and enter them into the database with accuracy. Call center specialists should maintain the call center database and must regularly update the contact log. They must also report malfunctioning equipment and software to their supervisors.
Call center agents and center specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Call Center Agent | Center Specialist | |
| Average salary | $31,180 | $33,648 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $41,000 | Between $24,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | BP America Inc |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a call center agent and a center specialist in terms of educational background:
| Call Center Agent | Center Specialist | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between call center agents' and center specialists' demographics:
| Call Center Agent | Center Specialist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 30.8% Female, 69.2% | Male, 46.4% Female, 53.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 5.9% White, 55.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 7.1% White, 55.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |