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The differences between program support specialists and service support specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a program support specialist and a service support specialist. Additionally, a service support specialist has an average salary of $43,538, which is higher than the $39,327 average annual salary of a program support specialist.
The top three skills for a program support specialist include program support, veterans and powerpoint. The most important skills for a service support specialist are customer service, support services, and social work.
| Program Support Specialist | Service Support Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $39,327 | $43,538 |
| Hourly rate | $18.91 | $20.93 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 169,855 | 125,209 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A program support specialist is responsible for monitoring the overall program aspects of an organization from the conceptualization to the final execution. Program support specialists negotiate contracts and transactions with the suppliers and vendors for resources that meet the funding and budget limitations. They process documents and assist the program staff in coordinating with other organizations for program plans and potential sponsorships. A program support specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in handling the program objectives and ensure client satisfaction.
A service support specialist's role is to assist clients by addressing and resolving their inquiries, concerns, and complaints. Their responsibilities typically revolve around responding to calls and correspondence, troubleshooting, analyzing customer needs, identifying the root of issues, and providing the necessary corrective measures, all to ensure efficiency and client satisfaction. There are also instances when they must perform follow-up calls, offer products and services, process payments, and even manage accounts. Furthermore, as a service support analyst, it is essential to engage with clients in a friendly yet professional approach, in adherence to the company's policies and regulations.
Program support specialists and service support specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Program Support Specialist | Service Support Specialist | |
| Average salary | $39,327 | $43,538 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $58,000 | Between $26,000 And $72,000 |
| Highest paying City | Urban Honolulu, HI | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Cheniere Energy |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a program support specialist and a service support specialist in terms of educational background:
| Program Support Specialist | Service Support Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between program support specialists' and service support specialists' demographics:
| Program Support Specialist | Service Support Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.7% Female, 75.3% | Male, 39.2% Female, 60.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 10.5% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |