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The differences between retention specialists and service 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 service specialist. Additionally, a service specialist has an average salary of $44,150, 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 service specialist are patients, social work, and criminal justice.
| Retention Specialist | Service Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $37,175 | $44,150 |
| Hourly rate | $17.87 | $21.23 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 199,631 | 207,020 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| 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 service specialist is responsible for assisting customers with their inquiries and concerns about the services offered by the organization. Service specialists' duties include responding to customers' requests, updating customers of promotional offers and new services, escalating high-level concerns to the appropriate department, and keeping accurate records of clients' issues and resolutions. Service specialists are also in charge of preparing customer surveys to rate their satisfaction and identifying opportunities for service improvement. A service specialist must display excellent customer service and communication skills to address clients' concerns efficiently and accurately.
Retention specialists and service specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retention Specialist | Service Specialist | |
| Average salary | $37,175 | $44,150 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $27,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Adobe | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a retention specialist and a service specialist in terms of educational background:
| Retention Specialist | Service Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between retention specialists' and service specialists' demographics:
| Retention Specialist | Service Specialist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.0% Female, 63.0% | Male, 40.1% Female, 59.9% |
| 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, 11.2% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 54.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |