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Service writer vs service desk associate

The differences between service writers and service desk associates 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 writer and a service desk associate. Additionally, a service desk associate has an average salary of $40,699, which is higher than the $39,016 average annual salary of a service writer.

The top three skills for a service writer include customer service, repair orders and warranty claims. The most important skills for a service desk associate are service desk, customer service, and sales floor.

Service writer vs service desk associate overview

Service WriterService Desk Associate
Yearly salary$39,016$40,699
Hourly rate$18.76$19.57
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs163,44199,676
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Average age4040
Years of experience1212

What does a service writer do?

A service writer is an employee who acts as an informative middleman between a business owner and its customers in the automotive sector. To develop this relationship, service writers must provide successful management of product or service delivery to their customers. Service writers must correctly manage their scheduled appointments to avoid overwhelming their mechanics with incoming vehicular repairs while monitoring the service progress to avoid delivery delays. They must also know how to encode customer profile information into the computer system.

What does a service desk associate do?

A service desk associate will answer and respond to the inquiries and requests from both employees and customers, either through telephone calls, emails, or in person. Your duties as a service desk associate will vary depending on the sector you work in. These duties may include capturing and validating queries and issues for processing, communicating with users via different channels, and advising users on the appropriate action to address their concerns. You will also be responsible for escalating unresolved issues to a much higher support level and providing security support and advice.

Service writer vs service desk associate salary

Service writers and service desk associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Service WriterService Desk Associate
Average salary$39,016$40,699
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $61,000Between $15,000 And $105,000
Highest paying CityCollege Park, MD-
Highest paying stateMaryland-
Best paying companyAmerican Institute of Physics-
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between service writer and service desk associate education

There are a few differences between a service writer and a service desk associate in terms of educational background:

Service WriterService Desk Associate
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 33%Bachelor's Degree, 33%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Service writer vs service desk associate demographics

Here are the differences between service writers' and service desk associates' demographics:

Service WriterService Desk Associate
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 62.7% Female, 37.3%Male, 23.6% Female, 76.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 5.8% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.0% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.2% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between service writer and service desk associate duties and responsibilities

Service writer example responsibilities.

  • Achieve certification in service writer sales (upselling )
  • Used SQL queries to report, analyze, and manage the ongoing Y2K research progress.
  • Prioritize and schedule service to residential customers for both HVAC and preventative maintenance.
  • Notify drivers via radio, cell phones, or GPS system.
  • Utilize GPS equipment and location to guide service technicians to service location.
  • Contact drivers for eta's, troubleshooting delivery issues, contact customers, reset orders.
  • Show more

Service desk associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage cash balances and inventory stock accurately; ensure cleanliness of all work stations and guarantee excellent customer service.
  • Realign the service desk to ITIL framework with emphasis on incident and problem management.
  • Develop SLA's for improve customer satisfaction and implement customer satisfaction surveys.
  • Count, balance and reconcile daily business transaction totals and record information into POS system.
  • Operate a POS system with a high volume of purchases, or return product to the store.
  • Define, implement and monitor KPI's and target to drive efficiency improvements within the local I.T.
  • Show more

Service writer vs service desk associate skills

Common service writer skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Repair Orders, 12%
  • Warranty Claims, 7%
  • Cleanliness, 7%
  • Parts Inventory, 7%
  • Schedule Appointments, 7%
Common service desk associate skills
  • Service Desk, 19%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Sales Floor, 10%
  • Front End, 10%
  • Customer Calls, 9%
  • Customer Care, 9%

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