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How to hire a customer account representative

Customer account representative hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring customer account representatives in the United States:

  • There are currently 445,602 customer account representatives in the US, as well as 269,549 job openings.
  • Customer account representatives are in the highest demand in Alpharetta, GA, with 11 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a customer account representative is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new customer account representative to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a customer account representative, step by step

To hire a customer account representative, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a customer account representative:

Here's a step-by-step customer account representative hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a customer account representative job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new customer account representative
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a customer account representative do?

A customer account representative's role is to serve as the primary contact between a company and its clients. They typically reach out to existing and potential customers through calls and correspondence, answer inquiries, address issues and concerns, close sales by offering products and services, process payments, and ensure satisfaction to boost sales and improve client base. Furthermore, as an account representative, it is essential to maintain records of all transactions while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a customer account representative does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The customer account representative hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A customer account representative's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, customer account representatives from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of customer account representatives.

    Type of Customer Account RepresentativeDescriptionHourly rate
    Customer Account RepresentativeCustomer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and provide information about an organization’s products and services.$12-22
    Customer Care ConsultantCustomer service consultants are professionals who offer advice and expertise related to customer service to help improve the business performance of an organization. These consultants are required to interact with customers to handle complaints and provide information about the organization's products and services... Show more$18-41
    Customer Service ConsultantA customer service consultant is responsible for addressing the customers' inquiries and concerns regarding the company's services and resolving complaints to provide the best customer service and satisfaction. Customer service consultants also sell new goods and products to the customers, demonstrating features and benefits before proceeding with the orders, payment, and delivery details... Show more$9-32
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Work Ethic
    • Inbound Calls
    • Customer Orders
    • Account Management
    • Outbound Calls
    • Delinquent Accounts
    • Past Due Accounts
    • Customer Inquiries
    • Order Entry
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • Customer Complaints
    • Technical Issues
    • Payment Arrangements
    • Post Sales
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage call center productivity levels by maintaining CSR schedule adherence.
    • Negotiate rates and pricing with customers, vendors, and logistics partners.
    • Prepare invoices for all customers in the logistics department at the end of every shipment.
    • Assist customers with equipment sales and services, troubleshoot issues and concerns, provide support for billing and accounts.
    • Utilize computer technology to troubleshoot product malfunctions.
    • Create display PowerPoint presentation used in national refresher training.
    More customer account representative duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your customer account representative job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A customer account representative salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, customer account representatives' average salary in alabama is 49% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level customer account representatives earn 41% less than senior-level customer account representatives.
    • Certifications. A customer account representative with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a customer account representative's salary.

    Average customer account representative salary

    $36,138yearly

    $17.37 hourly rate

    Entry-level customer account representative salary
    $27,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025

    Average customer account representative salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$47,695$23
    2Massachusetts$41,808$20
    3Minnesota$40,949$20
    4Ohio$40,842$20
    5Maryland$40,839$20
    6Colorado$40,496$19
    7New York$40,260$19
    8Illinois$37,456$18
    9Pennsylvania$36,974$18
    10Iowa$36,702$18
    11Wisconsin$36,525$18
    12Texas$36,521$18
    13Arizona$35,199$17
    14Michigan$34,522$17
    15Indiana$34,263$16
    16North Carolina$34,047$16
    17Nevada$33,030$16
    18Utah$32,787$16
    19Nebraska$32,765$16
    20Florida$32,584$16

    Average customer account representative salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Dairy Farmers of America$46,560$22.388
    2Johnson Controls$44,188$21.24191
    3South Tahoe Public Utility District$43,075$20.711
    4BD$42,964$20.6612
    5Schreiber Foods$42,395$20.381
    6Owens Corning$41,931$20.162
    7Alere$41,690$20.04
    8Siemens$41,424$19.9234
    9Autodesk$41,382$19.9012
    10Cutting Edge Capital$41,265$19.841
    11PepsiCo$41,176$19.8037
    12Astronics$40,945$19.69
    13Belcan$40,917$19.675
    14Dominion Energy$40,858$19.64
    15EDiS$40,644$19.54
    16Analog Devices$40,509$19.48
    17Microsoft$40,320$19.3822
    18CyberCoders$40,263$19.362
    19National Beverage$40,000$19.231
    20General Mills$39,934$19.204
  4. Writing a customer account representative job description

    A good customer account representative job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a customer account representative job description:

    Customer account representative job description example

    This role coordinates supply chain functions as it relates to the customer’s needs in order processing, customer inquiries, shipping, and returns. This position can also work with the Vendor Compliance team regarding processes that directly affect customer requirements and performance metrics. Description Process Customer Orders Answer inbound calls from customers related to orders (approximately 25-35/day) Respond to and compose emails from customers related to orders Manually enter orders into the system Release orders for delivery Provide EDI maintenance (including sku management) Resolve price holds Add/Cancel/Update items on orders Review/process order discrepancies (including credits and returns) Adhere to internal controls and requirements Process orders in a timely fashion without error Communicate with Customers (internal and external) Accept orders from customers via phone or email Communicate changes/updates to orders Provide updates to customers on shipping status, open orders, and product arrival Create spreadsheets with order information, shipping performance, fill rate Provide help with special requests as needed Partner with business units to understand the needs of the customer Customer Compliance Requirements Maintain knowledge of customer compliance requirements Understand shipping, labeling, and document requirements Disseminate critical compliance components to National Operations, Technical Solutions, Sales, Transportation and IT Qualifications Education High School Diploma (or G.E.D.) General Education Required Associate's Degree (or equivalent experience) in Business Administration or related field ExperienceMinimum 3 years – Robust customer service skills, customer facing Experience in high volume data entry Minimum 2 years - Call Center experience LanguagesSpanish PreferredSoftware/Technical Skills MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, Powerpoint) Proficient typing/data entry skills Ability to navigate websites, search engines etc SAP or related order entry modules Other Skills/Knowledge/Abilities Excellent Customer Service skills Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment Strong communication skills, both verbal and written Strong attention to detail and follow-up* Highly motivated self-starter with strong critical thinking skills This role will be a hybrid role. Subject to business needs, employees may work remotely up to two days per week.

    Assigned office days will be determined by managers#LI-Hybrid Brother International Corporation has earned its reputation as a premier provider of home office and business products, home appliances for the sewing and crafting enthusiast as well as industrial solutions that revolutionize the way we live and work. Brother International Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brother Industries Ltd. With worldwide sales exceeding $6 billion, this global manufacturer was started more than 100 years ago.

    Bridgewater, New Jersey is the corporate headquarters for Brother in the Americas. It has fully integrated sales, marketing services, manufacturing, research and development capabilities located in the U.S. In addition to its headquarters, Brother has facilities in California, Illinois and Tennessee, as well as subsidiaries in Canada, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Mexico.

    For more information, visit www.brother.com.Brother International Corporation ("Brother") is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or make employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal laws. If you require any physical or other assistance in completing this application, a reasonable accommodation will be made upon request.

  5. Post your job

    To find customer account representatives for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any customer account representatives they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level customer account representatives with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your customer account representative job on Zippia to find and recruit customer account representative candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with customer account representative candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new customer account representative

    Once you've selected the best customer account representative candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new customer account representative. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a customer account representative?

There are different types of costs for hiring customer account representatives. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new customer account representative employee.

The median annual salary for customer account representatives is $36,138 in the US. However, the cost of customer account representative hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a customer account representative for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $12 and $22 an hour.

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