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The differences between customer service associates and customer service clerks 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 service associate and a customer service clerk. Additionally, a customer service clerk has an average salary of $33,566, which is higher than the $31,709 average annual salary of a customer service associate.
The top three skills for a customer service associate include patients, sales floor and plumbing. The most important skills for a customer service clerk are customer service, basic math, and front end.
| Customer Service Associate | Customer Service Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $31,709 | $33,566 |
| Hourly rate | $15.24 | $16.14 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 380,943 | 361,383 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Customer service associates are representatives of the company who are responsible for solving customer concerns. They provide exceptional service to clients to ensure that their problems are solved and that the relationship between the client and the company remains strong. Customer service associates are in-charge of processing transactions, maintaining a good working relationship between the client and the company, ensuring that the client remains loyal to the company, and working on the requests of the client. Through all of this, customer service associates must keep any information they may encounter confidential. They should also have time management skills, problem-solving skills, and customer service skills.
A customer service clerk is responsible for resolving client issues, giving requested information, and providing clients high-quality customer service. Customer service clerks' tasks include sharing information, responding to and recording requests, collecting payments, and resolving billing disputes. Also, they ensure that products or services are delivered promptly to customers. Applicants to the job must be able to listen and communicate well. They must have excellent customer service skills and be able to multitask. Skills in conflict resolution and problem-solving will also give them an edge.
Customer service associates and customer service clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Customer Service Associate | Customer Service Clerk | |
| Average salary | $31,709 | $33,566 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $40,000 | Between $26,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Fidelity Investments | United States Courts |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Retail |
There are a few differences between a customer service associate and a customer service clerk in terms of educational background:
| Customer Service Associate | Customer Service Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between customer service associates' and customer service clerks' demographics:
| Customer Service Associate | Customer Service Clerk | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.4% Female, 61.6% | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 22.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 53.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |