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The differences between client support specialists and client relations specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a client support specialist, becoming a client relations specialist takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a client relations specialist has an average salary of $39,902, which is higher than the $39,585 average annual salary of a client support specialist.
The top three skills for a client support specialist include customer service, client support and client service. The most important skills for a client relations specialist are client relations, customer service, and data entry.
| Client Support Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $39,585 | $39,902 |
| Hourly rate | $19.03 | $19.18 |
| Growth rate | 10% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 136,163 | 200,766 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A client support specialist is responsible for assisting the clients' inquiries and concerns, resolving complaints, and processing requests regarding the goods and services offered by the company. Client support specialists manage the accuracy of client information on the database, maintaining client accounts, and ensuring the proper posting of payments. They also provide strategic techniques to sell products effectively by analyzing market trends and identify business opportunities that would generate more revenues and increase the company's profitability.
A client relations specialist is primarily in charge of building positive relationships with clients by providing optimal services. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their company of employment, it typically includes handling customer calls and correspondence, offering products or services, discussing promotions or product specifications, answering inquiries, arranging appointments, resolving issues and concerns, and processing payments or refunds. Moreover, a client relations specialist conducts market research and analysis to identify the current trends and practices, aiming for client satisfaction.
Client support specialists and client relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Client Support Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $39,585 | $39,902 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $53,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | NTT Data International L.L.C. | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Real Estate |
There are a few differences between a client support specialist and a client relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Client Support Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | - |
Here are the differences between client support specialists' and client relations specialists' demographics:
| Client Support Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 41.7% Female, 58.3% | Male, 30.3% Female, 69.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 6.5% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 7% |