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The differences between support agents and support associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a support agent and a support associate. Additionally, a support associate has an average salary of $47,039, which is higher than the $36,045 average annual salary of a support agent.
The top three skills for a support agent include reservations, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a support associate are sales floor, computer system, and POS.
| Support Agent | Support Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $36,045 | $47,039 |
| Hourly rate | $17.33 | $22.61 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 106,016 | 100,892 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
As the name entails, the job of a customer support agent is to provide excellent support and assistance to both new and existing customers. You will provide customers with information on products or services, oversee and resolve customer complaints, cancellations, errors, and other issues, assist in maintaining customer satisfaction and retention. Additionally, a customer support agent is responsible for encouraging customers to purchase a product or service and educating them about the product. You are also expected to accurately process emails and fax communications with customers.
The primary role of sales support associates is to help sales staff and customers during the sales process. A sales support associate also performs other tasks that include maintaining positive customer relations, responding to customers' requests for quotes, information, and specifications, and, initiating contact with prospective customers. They are also responsible for coordinating proposals, sales literature production, and presentations. Requirements for this position include a high school diploma or general education development, administrative and communication skills, and organizational skills.
Support agents and support associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Support Agent | Support Associate | |
| Average salary | $36,045 | $47,039 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $59,000 | Between $26,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hamilton, NJ | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Salesforce | Apollo Global Management |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a support agent and a support associate in terms of educational background:
| Support Agent | Support Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between support agents' and support associates' demographics:
| Support Agent | Support Associate | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% | Male, 36.7% Female, 63.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 10.6% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |