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The differences between service advisors 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 service advisor and a service specialist. Additionally, a service advisor has an average salary of $46,308, which is higher than the $44,150 average annual salary of a service specialist.
The top three skills for a service advisor include customer service, product knowledge and basic math. The most important skills for a service specialist are patients, social work, and criminal justice.
| Service Advisor | Service Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $46,308 | $44,150 |
| Hourly rate | $22.26 | $21.23 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 222,424 | 207,020 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Service Advisors specialize in customer service in a car dealership or automotive shop. Acting as a front-desk representative, it is the Service Advisor's responsibility to greet clients and offer assistance, provide necessary and accurate information to customers regarding the automotive issues and needed repairs, respond to inquiries, and introduce the clients to the available mechanics. Moreover, Service Advisors must inform clients regarding the costs and warranties, keep the clients updated with the status of the repairs, coordinate with suppliers, and as well as manage the schedule of the mechanics.
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.
Service advisors and service specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Advisor | Service Specialist | |
| Average salary | $46,308 | $44,150 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $79,000 | Between $27,000 And $71,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | Ropes & Gray |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between a service advisor and a service specialist in terms of educational background:
| Service Advisor | Service Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between service advisors' and service specialists' demographics:
| Service Advisor | Service Specialist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 40.1% Female, 59.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 6.1% White, 56.0% 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% |