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How to hire a service representative

Service representative hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring service representatives in the United States:

  • There are a total of 547,741 service representatives in the US, and there are currently 210,671 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a service representative is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per service representative on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for service representatives, with 74 job openings.

How to hire a service representative, step by step

To hire a service representative, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a service representative:

Here's a step-by-step service representative hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a service representative job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new service representative
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a service representative do?

Service representatives handle customer inquiries, requests, complaints, and other general feedback. They are usually the first point of contact with the company's customers. Service representatives are expected to be familiar with all of the company's products so that they can answer all inquiries made by the customers. They should also be familiar with company policies and guidelines on sales and customer handling so that they can address concerns and feedback. They are usually the ones who try to resolve customer complaints by sending issues to applicable departments and ensuring that customers are satisfied with the company's products and services.

Learn more about the specifics of what a service representative does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a service representative, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a service representative to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a service representative that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of service representatives.

    Type of Service RepresentativeDescriptionHourly rate
    Service RepresentativeCustomer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and provide information about an organization’s products and services.$11-21
    Service AgentA service agent is a professional 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... Show more$10-18
    Customer Support RepresentativeA customer support representative is responsible for answering calls and correspondence, providing customer assistance in various technical issues, concerns, or difficulties. There are also instances when they must make calls to follow-up on the issues, or even sell products and services... Show more$13-22
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Client Service
    • Patients
    • PET
    • Front Desk
    • Veterans
    • Outbound Calls
    • Cash Handling
    • Work Ethic
    • Strong Customer Service
    • Data Entry
    • Strong Work Ethic
    • Problem Resolution
    • Taking Care
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Utilize QuickBooks to manage patient's payment for hearing aids and various equipment.
    • Join online marketplace specializing in local deals to manage customer engagements while providing industry-best service.
    • Manage customer relations with internal personnel, group administrators, brokers and members as related to Medicare insurance.
    • Involve great interpersonal skills and upselling.
    • Provide excellent customer service via ZenDesk e-mail platform.
    • Counsele individuals who are applying for or receiving TANF.
    More service representative duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your service representative job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A service representative can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, service representatives' average salary in mississippi is 46% less than in new york.
    • Seniority. Entry-level service representatives 47% less than senior-level service representatives.
    • Certifications. A service representative with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a service representative's salary.

    Average service representative salary

    $16.20hourly

    $33,692 yearly

    Entry-level service representative salary
    $24,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 19, 2025

    Average service representative salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$42,751$21
    2Massachusetts$41,933$20
    3Maryland$39,128$19
    4Pennsylvania$39,031$19
    5Hawaii$37,909$18
    6California$37,792$18
    7Washington$37,019$18
    8Minnesota$36,798$18
    9Wisconsin$36,230$17
    10Oregon$35,331$17
    11Illinois$35,307$17
    12Virginia$33,571$16
    13Michigan$33,317$16
    14Arizona$33,303$16
    15Ohio$33,124$16
    16Nevada$32,915$16
    17Colorado$32,724$16
    18Iowa$32,719$16
    19Maine$32,674$16
    20Nebraska$32,399$16

    Average service representative salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Northern Trust$72,307$34.764
    2Boehringer Ingelheim$71,711$34.484
    3Guidehouse$66,731$32.0836
    4Cisco$66,572$32.0118
    5Huron Consulting Group$59,948$28.8219
    6HP$57,796$27.791
    7Infosys Public Service$51,644$24.8318
    8Univest Financial Corporation$51,223$24.6311
    9Baker Hughes$51,176$24.605
    10Stantec$51,133$24.589
    11BNY Mellon$50,925$24.4881
    12QuintilesIMS$50,810$24.4385
    13Citi$49,736$23.9118
    14New York University$49,692$23.89
    15Oracle$48,375$23.26653
    16Advent Software$48,212$23.18
    17Boston Medical Center$47,949$23.0516
    18Williams International$47,378$22.782
    19University of California-Berkeley$47,311$22.75
    20First Republic Bank$47,157$22.67
  4. Writing a service representative job description

    A service representative job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a service representative job description:

    Service representative job description example

    Opportunities for keeping the Company and its services in front of public. Maintains database of client relations contacts. Meets at least weekly with Chief Executive Officer regarding client relations, accounts, and activities. May provide written reports to CEO and Laboratory Director relating to client status. Advises line management on client relations, accounts and activities. Helps develop and conduct client opinion surveys for CAP regulations. Meets with clients as needed, but at least monthly. May contact and/or establish new clients for the Company. New client set up, including paperwork necessary for billing, reporting, and patient inquiry. May contact clients for past due billing and supply ordering issues. Position works closely with the billing, distribution, and client services department. Position requires self-supervision and ability to work ‘in the field'. Typically is assigned motor vehicle but may be required to carry out tasks via foot, bicycle, or public conveyance. Will follow WestPac Labs Vehicular Driver Safety Standards, SOP# 9.095 and applicable government motor vehicle operation laws and regulations. In addition to an employee's typical schedule, this position may require employees to work weekends, split shifts, and holidays if needed by the Company. Other duties may apply as necessary.

    Physical Capabilities

    • Light physical effort (lift/carry up to 25 lbs.)
    • Occasional reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching
    • Frequent, prolonged standing/sitting/walking
    • Must be able to see, hear, and respond adequately
    • Extensive computer work
    • Frequent use of telephone and fax
    • Occasional travel required to interact with Division personnel and/or attend meetings, educational training

    Work Experience and Educational Requirements

    Five to seven years' experience in the medical, preferably clinical laboratory, field. Previous sales or marketing experience a plus. Professional appearance and ability to communicate with physicians, nurses, and other personnel in clients' offices are vital requirements.

    High School Diploma or GED required. (B.A.) Bachelor's degree from four year college or university in Marketing, Public Relations, or Sales preferred. Valid Class ‘C' California driver's license required

    Scheduled Weekly Hours:

    40

    Work Shift:

    Company:

    WestPac Labs, Inc.

    Sonic Healthcare USA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

    This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find service representatives for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your service representative job on Zippia to find and recruit service representative candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting service representatives requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new service representative

    Once you have selected a candidate for the service representative position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new service representative first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a service representative?

Recruiting service representatives involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for service representatives is $33,692 in the US. However, the cost of service representative hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a service representative for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $11 and $21 an hour.

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