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Service agent vs service provider

The differences between service agents and service providers 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 agent and a service provider. Additionally, a service provider has an average salary of $35,089, which is higher than the $29,769 average annual salary of a service agent.

The top three skills for a service agent include regular maintenance, customer service and credit card. The most important skills for a service provider are customer service, cleanliness, and social work.

Service agent vs service provider overview

Service AgentService Provider
Yearly salary$29,769$35,089
Hourly rate$14.31$16.87
Growth rate-4%12%
Number of jobs218,79525,552
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Average age4043
Years of experience1212

What does a service agent do?

A service agent is an individual whose primary function is to provide a friendly service to internal and external customers about the organization's products and services. An agent should be people-oriented, highly motivated with a positive and friendly attitude. Although an agent usually works in a call center, an agent can communicate in various ways, such as the telephone or often face to face. The minimum educational requirement of being a service agent is a high school diploma; however, the customer service experience is a plus.

What does a service provider do?

Service providers are individuals or entities offering services to an organization and other parties. They provide storage, processing, or network services. The providers offer organizations real estate, communications, education, legal, and consulting services. It is their job to complete the requested tasks of their clients, provide solutions to network problems, and recommend options based on the needs of their clients. They also suggest changes or opportunities necessary within the organization.

Service agent vs service provider salary

Service agents and service providers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Service AgentService Provider
Average salary$29,769$35,089
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $38,000Between $23,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsHawaii
Best paying companyVestas Blades AmericaMeta
Best paying industryTechnologyInsurance

Differences between service agent and service provider education

There are a few differences between a service agent and a service provider in terms of educational background:

Service AgentService Provider
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 36%Bachelor's Degree, 53%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common college-SUNY at Binghamton

Service agent vs service provider demographics

Here are the differences between service agents' and service providers' demographics:

Service AgentService Provider
Average age4043
Gender ratioMale, 61.5% Female, 38.5%Male, 39.3% Female, 60.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.6% Asian, 6.7% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 7.1% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%
LGBT Percentage7%11%

Differences between service agent and service provider duties and responsibilities

Service agent example responsibilities.

  • Educate veterans and the college community on veteran's benefits and academic requirements need to accomplish academic goals.
  • Work with technical support or various production departments as needed to effectively troubleshoot, analyze and resolve software issues.
  • Answer billing inquiries, collect payments, sell products and troubleshoot customer's cable, high speed internet and phone issues.
  • Inspect passenger identification and travel documents and process passenger baggage while following FAA and SCA guidelines.
  • Maintain highly sensitive patient records following HIPAA compliance; utilize appropriate medical terminology of the specific environment.
  • Enforce safety/security measures to protect sensitive zones, ensure FAA, ADA company and airport regulations/policies/procedures are follow.
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Service provider example responsibilities.

  • Develop contracting strategy to build capacity and achieve ongoing compliance with Medicare and Medicaid provider network adequacy requirements.
  • Certify to administer first aid, CPR; dispense medication.
  • Certify in first aid and CPR programs via company training.
  • Ensure contracts comply with HIPAA, fraud and abuse regulations and CMS guidelines.
  • Provide assistance to DHS provider staff in order for them to better navigate through the social service systems.
  • Exceed company standards for unit cleanliness and client/partner satisfaction.
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Service agent vs service provider skills

Common service agent skills
  • Regular Maintenance, 23%
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Credit Card, 8%
  • Quality Standards, 8%
  • PET, 6%
  • Car Washes, 4%
Common service provider skills
  • Customer Service, 31%
  • Cleanliness, 20%
  • Social Work, 7%
  • Mental Health, 5%
  • Patients, 4%
  • Community Resources, 2%

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