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The differences between retention specialists and client relations specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a retention specialist and a client relations specialist. Additionally, a client relations specialist has an average salary of $39,902, which is higher than the $37,175 average annual salary of a retention specialist.
The top three skills for a retention specialist include customer service, outbound calls and powerpoint. The most important skills for a client relations specialist are client relations, customer service, and data entry.
| Retention Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $37,175 | $39,902 |
| Hourly rate | $17.87 | $19.18 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 199,631 | 200,766 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A retention specialist is responsible for devising strategies to maintain a healthy relationship with clients. They are primarily in charge of negotiating and securing contract renewals, handling issues and corrective measures for customer satisfaction, utilizing feedback to improve services, and maintaining a healthy rapport to strengthen the client base. Furthermore, as a retention specialist, it is essential to perform calls and correspondence, keep records of all transactions, and coordinate with work-staff.
A client relations specialist is primarily in charge of building positive relationships with clients by providing optimal services. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their company of employment, it typically includes handling customer calls and correspondence, offering products or services, discussing promotions or product specifications, answering inquiries, arranging appointments, resolving issues and concerns, and processing payments or refunds. Moreover, a client relations specialist conducts market research and analysis to identify the current trends and practices, aiming for client satisfaction.
Retention specialists and client relations specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retention Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Average salary | $37,175 | $39,902 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $27,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Adobe | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Real Estate |
There are a few differences between a retention specialist and a client relations specialist in terms of educational background:
| Retention Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between retention specialists' and client relations specialists' demographics:
| Retention Specialist | Client Relations Specialist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0% | Male, 30.3% Female, 69.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 6.0% White, 55.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 6.5% White, 55.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |