Customer Service Representatives
Interact with customers to provide basic or scripted information in response to routine inquiries about products and services. May handle and resolve general complaints. Excludes individuals whose duties are primarily installation, sales, repair, and technical support.
Also called: Account Adjuster, Account Representative, Adjustment Clerk, Automotive Service Advisor, Automotive Service Writer, Bill Adjuster
Median pay
$44,770
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$31,750 – $63,590
People employed
2,595,750
Holland code
CES
Conventional · Enterprising · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 2.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
- 3.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 4.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 5.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 6.Do you want to stay at 40 hours a week or less?
- 7.Do you prefer working indoors?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Customer Service Representatives pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What customer service representatives do
- 01Confer with customers by telephone or in person to provide information about products or services, take or enter orders, cancel accounts, or obtain details of complaints.
- 02Keep records of customer interactions or transactions, recording details of inquiries, complaints, or comments, as well as actions taken.
- 03Check to ensure that appropriate changes were made to resolve customers' problems.
- 04Contact customers to respond to inquiries or to notify them of claim investigation results or any planned adjustments.
- 05Resolve customers' service or billing complaints by performing activities such as exchanging merchandise, refunding money, or adjusting bills.
- 06Determine charges for services requested, collect deposits or payments, or arrange for billing.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Writing
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Sales and Marketing
- Mathematics
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
- Empathy
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from customer service representatives
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks91% · +10%
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel90% · +56%
- Bill and Account Collectors88% · +5%
- Tellers85% · −4%
- Office Clerks, General84% · +1%
Change into customer service representatives
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Bill and Account Collectors91% · $47,030
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks91% · $49,230
- Cashiers90% · $32,880
- Telephone Operators88% · $41,740
- Telemarketers87% · $35,450
Majors that lead here
- Receptionist
- Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.