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The differences between customer service clerks and associate customer service representatives 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 clerk and an associate customer service representative. Additionally, an associate customer service representative has an average salary of $35,215, which is higher than the $33,566 average annual salary of a customer service clerk.
The top three skills for a customer service clerk include customer service, basic math and front end. The most important skills for an associate customer service representative are patients, outbound calls, and customer inquiries.
| Customer Service Clerk | Associate Customer Service Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $33,566 | $35,215 |
| Hourly rate | $16.14 | $16.93 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 361,383 | 199,751 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
An associate customer service representative is responsible for providing high customer service by assisting customers on their inquiries and concerns, as well as resolving and escalating high-level complaints to the supervisor or tenured customer service representative. Associate customer service representatives also process orders and payments from the customers, replacing defective items, and issuing refunds as needed. They must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on handling data processing procedures to the database for reference to customer concerns.
Customer service clerks and associate customer service representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Customer Service Clerk | Associate Customer Service Representative | |
| Average salary | $33,566 | $35,215 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $42,000 | Between $26,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | United States Courts | Deutsche Bank |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a customer service clerk and an associate customer service representative in terms of educational background:
| Customer Service Clerk | Associate Customer Service Representative | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between customer service clerks' and associate customer service representatives' demographics:
| Customer Service Clerk | Associate Customer Service Representative | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 6.4% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |