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The differences between call center technicians and call center associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a call center technician, becoming a call center associate takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a call center technician has an average salary of $34,630, which is higher than the $31,363 average annual salary of a call center associate.
The top three skills for a call center technician include center management, patients and technical support. The most important skills for a call center associate are patients, inbound calls, and customer service.
| Call Center Technician | Call Center Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $34,630 | $31,363 |
| Hourly rate | $16.65 | $15.08 |
| Growth rate | 10% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 117,083 | 198,167 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A call center technician is someone who handles quality-wise communication, product representation, and customer support for clients. Call center technicians research issues related to call quality and documentation. They plan and assist in the installation of hardware, maintenance agreements, and software to maximize the compatibility, integration, and continuing operations of applications or systems. Also, they provide end-users with technical support and respond through telephone or email requests.
Call center associates are professionals who are responsible for taking inbound and outbound customer calls and handle responsibilities that include account inquiries, customer complaints, or product and support issues. These associates are required to provide quality assistance and customer service so that they can receive positive reviews from their customers. They must assist customers with technical support issues, which include updating product documentation and training materials. Call center associates must also accurately identify their customers' needs and objectives so that they can achieve the organization's sales goals.
Call center technicians and call center associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Call Center Technician | Call Center Associate | |
| Average salary | $34,630 | $31,363 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $52,000 | Between $22,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Jacksonville, NC | Albany, NY |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | New York |
| Best paying company | Ciena Healthcare | Spectrum |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a call center technician and a call center associate in terms of educational background:
| Call Center Technician | Call Center Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between call center technicians' and call center associates' demographics:
| Call Center Technician | Call Center Associate | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.5% Female, 43.5% | Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 10.5% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 7% |