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Customer agent vs customer care associate

The differences between customer agents 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 a customer agent and a customer care associate. Additionally, a customer care associate has an average salary of $33,115, which is higher than the $31,834 average annual salary of a customer agent.

The top three skills for a customer agent include data entry, customer service and outbound calls. The most important skills for a customer care associate are customer care, patients, and customer service.

Customer agent vs customer care associate overview

Customer AgentCustomer Care Associate
Yearly salary$31,834$33,115
Hourly rate$15.30$15.92
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs211,832250,296
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age4040
Years of experience1212

What does a customer agent do?

A customer agent provides friendly service to external and internal customers. Customer agents talk to customers on behalf of businesses and companies. They help customers with their queries and complaints. It is their job to give customers a better understanding of the products. They answer questions with regards to their reservations. Sometimes, they also have sales roles. Oftentimes, they answer questions, process sales, provide information, and resolve problems.

What does a customer care associate do?

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.

Customer agent vs customer care associate salary

Customer agents and customer care associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Customer AgentCustomer Care Associate
Average salary$31,834$33,115
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $39,000Between $24,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSan Diego, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companySpeedway MotorsCentennial Bank
Best paying industryTechnologyInsurance

Differences between customer agent and customer care associate education

There are a few differences between a customer agent and a customer care associate in terms of educational background:

Customer AgentCustomer Care Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Customer agent vs customer care associate demographics

Here are the differences between customer agents' and customer care associates' demographics:

Customer AgentCustomer Care Associate
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 43.8% Female, 56.2%Male, 30.1% Female, 69.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 7.0% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage7%7%

Differences between customer agent and customer care associate duties and responsibilities

Customer agent example responsibilities.

  • Manage and plan escalations; assure HIPPA guidelines are followed for confidentially and privacy.
  • Demonstrate superb organizational and multitasking abilities
  • Demonstrate superb organizational and multitasking abilities

Customer care associate example responsibilities.

  • Continue to manage a high volume of customer calls relate to HMO, PPO and POS concerns.
  • Verify HIPAA member information, update members account, expedite payments, explain health and dental plan benefits options.
  • Answer inbound calls assisting customers with billing questions, troubleshoot for customers, and assist customers with service plans and upgrading packages
  • Receive inbound provider calls at a call center regarding patients medical insurance benefits and eligibility, edit and process Medicare claims.
  • Provide superior customer service to inbound calls from DirecTV customers regarding their schedule service/install appointment.

Customer agent vs customer care associate skills

Common customer agent skills
  • Data Entry, 12%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Outbound Calls, 10%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 8%
  • Troubleshoot, 5%
  • Customer Support, 5%
Common customer care associate skills
  • Customer Care, 21%
  • Patients, 16%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Telephone Inquiries, 6%
  • Customer Support, 5%
  • Home Health, 3%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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