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The differences between distribution center associates and customer service 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 distribution center associate and a customer service associate. Additionally, a distribution center associate has an average salary of $33,708, which is higher than the $31,709 average annual salary of a customer service associate.
The top three skills for a distribution center associate include pallets, excellent interpersonal and patients. The most important skills for a customer service associate are patients, sales floor, and plumbing.
| Distribution Center Associate | Customer Service Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $33,708 | $31,709 |
| Hourly rate | $16.21 | $15.24 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 240,852 | 380,943 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A distribution center associate is responsible for supporting the operations of a distribution center, such as assisting the manufacturing process, labeling merchandise, packaging items, and storing products to the appropriate category shelves. Distribution center associates also help on loading and unloading items from the delivery trucks, checking inventory receipts, and inspecting the quality and the correct quantity of products for shipment. They update stock information on the database, as well as responding to clients' inquiries and delivery concerns, and resolving complaints immediately.
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.
Distribution center associates and customer service associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Distribution Center Associate | Customer Service Associate | |
| Average salary | $33,708 | $31,709 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $42,000 | Between $24,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | Minnesota | California |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Fidelity Investments |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Finance |
There are a few differences between a distribution center associate and a customer service associate in terms of educational background:
| Distribution Center Associate | Customer Service Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between distribution center associates' and customer service associates' demographics:
| Distribution Center Associate | Customer Service Associate | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 49.9% Female, 50.1% | Male, 38.4% Female, 61.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |