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The differences between merchandise processors 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 merchandise processor and a customer service associate. Additionally, a customer service associate has an average salary of $31,709, which is higher than the $31,092 average annual salary of a merchandise processor.
The top three skills for a merchandise processor include customer service, sales floor and basic math. The most important skills for a customer service associate are patients, sales floor, and plumbing.
| Merchandise Processor | Customer Service Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $31,092 | $31,709 |
| Hourly rate | $14.95 | $15.24 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 13,551 | 380,943 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A Merchandise Processor works at warehouse facilities where they are in charge of preparing and processing merchandise. Their tasks typically revolve around monitoring inventory, organizing and labeling products, packing and tagging items, strategically arranging materials to maximize warehouse spaces, storing supplies according to protocols, and maintaining incoming and outgoing merchandise. There are also instances when they must inspect the product's quality and quantity, sort and price items, and produce reports. A Merchandise Processor typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for an efficient and smooth workflow.
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.
Merchandise processors and customer service associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandise Processor | Customer Service Associate | |
| Average salary | $31,092 | $31,709 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $37,000 | Between $24,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lombard, IL | Richmond, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Steve Madden | Fidelity Investments |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a merchandise processor and a customer service associate in terms of educational background:
| Merchandise Processor | Customer Service Associate | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between merchandise processors' and customer service associates' demographics:
| Merchandise Processor | Customer Service Associate | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.0% Female, 56.0% | Male, 38.4% Female, 61.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |