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The differences between customer contact specialists and service 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 customer contact specialist and a service specialist. Additionally, a service specialist has an average salary of $44,150, which is higher than the $35,056 average annual salary of a customer contact specialist.
The top three skills for a customer contact specialist include outbound calls, inbound calls and powerpoint. The most important skills for a service specialist are patients, social work, and criminal justice.
| Customer Contact Specialist | Service Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $35,056 | $44,150 |
| Hourly rate | $16.85 | $21.23 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 205,402 | 207,020 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Customer Contact Specialist interacts with customers in providing information in response to product and service inquiries. They manage and provide resolution to client complaints. They respond to customer queries accurately and in time through email or phone. Part of their responsibilities is to develop corporate reputation thru excellent customer service. Customer Contact Specialist also coordinates front-desk activities like redirecting phone calls.
A service specialist is responsible for assisting customers with their inquiries and concerns about the services offered by the organization. Service specialists' duties include responding to customers' requests, updating customers of promotional offers and new services, escalating high-level concerns to the appropriate department, and keeping accurate records of clients' issues and resolutions. Service specialists are also in charge of preparing customer surveys to rate their satisfaction and identifying opportunities for service improvement. A service specialist must display excellent customer service and communication skills to address clients' concerns efficiently and accurately.
Customer contact specialists and service specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Customer Contact Specialist | Service Specialist | |
| Average salary | $35,056 | $44,150 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $48,000 | Between $27,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Quincy, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Deloitte | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a customer contact specialist and a service specialist in terms of educational background:
| Customer Contact Specialist | Service Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between customer contact specialists' and service specialists' demographics:
| Customer Contact Specialist | Service Specialist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.0% Female, 65.0% | Male, 40.1% Female, 59.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.5% Asian, 6.5% White, 55.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |