Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between merchandise processors and 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 merchandise processor and a service representative. Additionally, a service representative has an average salary of $33,692, 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 service representative are customer service, client service, and patients.
| Merchandise Processor | Service Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $31,092 | $33,692 |
| Hourly rate | $14.95 | $16.20 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 13,551 | 210,671 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| 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.
Service representatives handle customer inquiries, requests, complaints, and other general feedback. They are usually the first point of contact with the company's customers. Service representatives are expected to be familiar with all of the company's products so that they can answer all inquiries made by the customers. They should also be familiar with company policies and guidelines on sales and customer handling so that they can address concerns and feedback. They are usually the ones who try to resolve customer complaints by sending issues to applicable departments and ensuring that customers are satisfied with the company's products and services.
Merchandise processors and service representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandise Processor | Service Representative | |
| Average salary | $31,092 | $33,692 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $37,000 | Between $24,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lombard, IL | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Steve Madden | Northern Trust |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Government |
There are a few differences between a merchandise processor and a service representative in terms of educational background:
| Merchandise Processor | Service Representative | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between merchandise processors' and service representatives' demographics:
| Merchandise Processor | Service Representative | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.0% Female, 56.0% | Male, 39.6% Female, 60.4% |
| 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, 11.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 6.8% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |