Receptionist/customer service vs customer service desk

The differences between receptionist/customer services and customer service desks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a receptionist/customer service and a customer service desk. Additionally, a customer service desk has an average salary of $34,599, which is higher than the $30,604 average annual salary of a receptionist/customer service.

The top three skills for a receptionist/customer service include customer service, phone calls and data entry. The most important skills for a customer service desk are service desk, customer service, and strong customer service.

Receptionist/customer service vs customer service desk overview

	Receptionist/Customer Service	Customer Service Desk
Yearly salary	$30,604	$34,599
Hourly rate	$14.71	$16.63
Growth rate	-4%	-4%
Number of jobs	216,587	233,256
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age	40	40
Years of experience	12	12

What does a receptionist/customer service do?

Receptionists or customer service professionals are considered as the first contact point of the clients. They usually greet and welcome guests visiting an office or organization. These are employees who serve as administrative or office support. They take responsibility for digital communication. It is their job to coordinate the front desk activities such as redirecting phone calls and distributing correspondence. They should be equipped with skills like attention to detail, dependability, and communication skills.

What does a customer service desk do?

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.

Receptionist/customer service vs customer service desk salary

Receptionist/customer services and customer service desks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Receptionist/Customer Service	Customer Service Desk
Average salary	$30,604	$34,599
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $37,000	Between $25,000 And $47,000
Highest paying City	Billerica, MA	Atwater, CA
Highest paying state	Minnesota	Alaska
Best paying company	Uline	SAIC
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Manufacturing

Differences between receptionist/customer service and customer service desk education

There are a few differences between a receptionist/customer service and a customer service desk in terms of educational background:

	Receptionist/Customer Service	Customer Service Desk
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 35%	Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Receptionist/customer service vs customer service desk demographics

Here are the differences between receptionist/customer services' and customer service desks' demographics:

	Receptionist/Customer Service	Customer Service Desk
Average age	40	40
Gender ratio	Male, 8.0% Female, 92.0%	Male, 28.8% Female, 71.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 25.4% Asian, 6.1% White, 51.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	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%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between receptionist/customer service and customer service desk duties and responsibilities

Receptionist/customer service example responsibilities.

Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
Bill and collect from private pay, Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance companies.
Doctor authorization for treatments, understanding of Medicare and Medicaid, prior authorizations (if need).
Resolve problems with the buyers concerning invoices that do not match in the AS400 system.
Receive and apply checks into AS400 accounting database and scan checks into bank, on a daily basis.

Customer service desk example responsibilities.

Manage cash balances and inventory stock accurately; ensure cleanliness of all work stations and guarantee excellent customer service.
Operate a POS system to itemize and complete customer front-end register transactions.
Ask to follow closing procedures of facility and close out POS system.
Organize activities such as science and math club, sports, art, and cooking.
Create a RMA for faulty parts and dispatch technician to the site to replace the part or troubleshoot the issue.
Process customer transactions and troubleshoot register issues.

Receptionist/customer service vs customer service desk skills

Common receptionist/customer service skills

Customer Service, 16%
Phone Calls, 15%
Data Entry, 14%
Telephone Calls, 8%
Front Desk, 8%
Scheduling Appointments, 8%

Common customer service desk skills

Service Desk, 20%
Customer Service, 17%
Strong Customer Service, 15%
Front Desk, 7%
Windows, 4%
Sales Floor, 4%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Receptionist/Customer Service
Receptionist/Customer Service vs Customer Service Desk

Updated January 8, 2025

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