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The differences between service planners and service advisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a service planner, becoming a service advisor takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a service planner has an average salary of $56,421, which is higher than the $46,308 average annual salary of a service advisor.
The top three skills for a service planner include customer complaints, data entry and customer service. The most important skills for a service advisor are customer service, product knowledge, and basic math.
| Service Planner | Service Advisor | |
| Yearly salary | $56,421 | $46,308 |
| Hourly rate | $27.13 | $22.26 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 15,435 | 222,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
The duties of a service planner depend on their place or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities include performing market research and analysis, gathering and analyzing customer data and feedback, liaising with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, establishing guidelines and timelines, and developing strategies to optimize operations. They must also monitor the progress of operations from planning to execution, resolving problems should any arise. Moreover, a service planner usually works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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.
Service planners and service advisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Service Planner | Service Advisor | |
| Average salary | $56,421 | $46,308 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $78,000 | Between $26,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | BP America Inc | |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Finance |
There are a few differences between a service planner and a service advisor in terms of educational background:
| Service Planner | Service Advisor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | - |
Here are the differences between service planners' and service advisors' demographics:
| Service Planner | Service Advisor | |
| Average age | 45 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 44.5% Female, 55.5% | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 7% |