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The differences between customer service desks 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 service desk and a customer care associate. Additionally, a customer service desk has an average salary of $34,599, which is higher than the $33,115 average annual salary of a customer care associate.
The top three skills for a customer service desk include service desk, customer service and strong customer service. The most important skills for a customer care associate are customer care, patients, and customer service.
| Customer Service Desk | Customer Care Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $34,599 | $33,115 |
| Hourly rate | $16.63 | $15.92 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 233,256 | 250,296 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
The responsibilities of working in a customer service desk primarily revolves around ensuring customer satisfaction by responding to their inquiries and concerns. There are instances when it is required to provide directions, locate products, make reservations, and resolve various issues. There may also be administrative tasks such as handling and making calls, assisting customers in filling out forms, preparing paperwork and reports, arranging records, and coordinating with various staff members to ensure that a customer receives quality service.
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 service desks and customer care associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Customer Service Desk | Customer Care Associate | |
| Average salary | $34,599 | $33,115 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $47,000 | Between $24,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Atwater, CA | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | SAIC | Centennial Bank |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a customer service desk and a customer care associate in terms of educational background:
| Customer Service Desk | Customer Care Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 32% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between customer service desks' and customer care associates' demographics:
| Customer Service Desk | Customer Care Associate | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.8% Female, 71.2% | Male, 30.1% Female, 69.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.3% Asian, 6.5% 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 Percentage | 7% | 7% |