The consumer service industry has continued to grow over the years and offers many career opportunities for different professionals. So if you are looking for the best-paying customer service jobs, then the consumer services sector is one of your options.
Some of the best paying jobs in the consumer services industry include: call center representative, bank teller, customer service agent, client relations associate, account coordinator, personal financial advisor, and technical support representative, among others.
The industry is packed with many career options that I won’t be unable to discuss them all. Therefore, in this article, I will only focus on some of the best careers that pay well, their educational requirements, and the average annual salary, among other details.
What Exactly Are Consumer Services?
Consumer services refer to the support that a seller or the provider of the product or service accords to the consumer or customer. There are many definitions, but it revolves around the actions that the producer of the consumer products or services gives to the end user to help them in the different aspects of using the same product or service.
Is Consumer Services A Good Career Path?
The consumer service industry is vast and filled with many work opportunities. Moreover, it is an excellent industry with promising careers that pay well. Therefore, if you wish to work in the consumer industry, then you need to align your skills with the different jobs available in the consumer industry, and, indeed, you will find the best and most attractive career choices in this field.
How Many Jobs Are Available In Consumer Services
Of course, we cannot count the number of jobs available in the consumer service industry since there are thousands of them, if not millions. Moreover, it is a broad field, including employment in restaurants, retail, transportation, hotel, and other sectors.
What Are Consumer Service Skills?
These are the skills you need to handle consumer needs in different industries; therefore, to work in the consumer service industry, you must have good persuasive speaking skills, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, excellent communication skills, organizational skills, time management, and product knowledge skills, among others.
Top Best Paying Jobs In Consumer Services
As I already mentioned, the consumer service industry is a good career path with many jobs and career options that pay well. It is a vast industry, and you can find a career option that matches your skills if you are interested in working in this sector. Some of the best-paying jobs in this industry include the following:
1. Call Center Agent
A call center agent is a professional tasked with handling inbound and outbound calls. They also identify customers’ needs and work on them to provide solutions, sell products by placing customer orders, and provide service and product information, among other duties.
Educational Requirements
To be a call center agent, you need at least a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification. Most employers would offer on-the-job training to call center agents, which takes a few weeks to months, depending on the employer. Call center agents must possess good communication, phone, active listening, and problem-solving skills, among other skills.
Average Annual Salary
According to Talent statistics, the average annual salary of a call center agent is $29,250 per year and $36,102 per year, according to Salary.com statistics. Therefore, being a call center agent with a high school diploma and earning that amount is an excellent career to pursue.
2. Client Relations Associate
A client relations associate works directly with the clients to ensure that their concerns, needs, and aspirations are met. They do this to ensure that the clients are left satisfied and happy with the service or the products they received. The role of a client’s associate depends on the industry and employer and can vary from one to another.
Educational Requirements
To become a client relations associate, you need a bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or communication. Studies reveal that about 57.5% of customer relations associates in the United States have a bachelor’s degree. Therefore, if you are passionate about a customer relations career, you must pursue a recommended degree program.
Average Annual Salary
A client’s relation associate earns an average salary of about $55,029 annually, according to Salary.com statistics. It is an attractive salary, which can vary from one state to another and from one employer to another depending on the industry or sector you are in.
3. Client Services Coordinator
A client service coordinator is a link between the clients and the company or organization. The role of a client service coordinator is to receive and analyze client queries and customer issues, then escalate them to the relevant departments. This ensures that the client’s complaints or concerns are addressed to their satisfaction.
Educational Requirements
The minimum requirement to become a client service coordinator is a high school diploma. An advanced level would require a bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, or any other relevant field.
Average Annual Salary
According to Glassdoor statistics, the average salary of a client service coordinator in the United States is about $38,646 per year. However, the salary will differ based on the level of education and professional qualifications, state, and from one employer to another.
4. Concierge
A concierge is a person who works to help the employees, tenants, guests, or any other group of people with their personal services. Such services may include making coffee for them, assisting with transportation matters, making dinner plans, and other duties assigned by the employer.
Educational Requirements
Most employers would require one to have at least a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification to qualify as a concierge. For advanced career levels, one should consider an associate’s degree in hospitality, business, or administration.
Average Annual Salary
The annual average salary of a concierge is about $32,010 in the United States, according to Glassdoor. However, according to Talent statistics, entry-level positions can earn about $27,300 annually.
5. Customer Service Representative
A customer service representative is a good career path that deals with helping clients and customers with their queries and providing them with helpful information. The job also entails receiving calls and responding to customer complaints, among other functions as assigned by the employer.
Educational Requirements
To become a customer service representative, you need at least a high school diploma or equivalent qualifications. However, this may vary from one employer to another and depending on the job description.
Average Annual Salary
According to Glassdoor statistics, the annual salary of a customer service professional is $33,302 on average. The salary, however, can vary depending on the level of education, professional qualifications, and from one industry to another, among other factors.
6. Front Desk Associate Or Receptionist
Front desk associates or receptionists serve as the first point of contact with the clients in a hospital, bank, or restaurant, among other places. It also involves monitoring the check-ins and checkouts, greeting customers, answering phone calls, and performing other duties as assigned.
Educational Requirements
Front desk and receptionist positions do not require one to have a bachelor’s degree or to have pursued any course. You can learn on the job with a high school diploma or other relevant qualifications. However, some advanced levels require a bachelor’s degree in administration, clerical, communication, or business.
Average Annual Salary
The average salary of a front office and receptionist is $38,539 per year in the United States, according to Salary statistics. The pay, however, may differ with location, industry, level of education, and professional qualifications, among other factors.
7. Member Services Specialist
A member service specialist is a professional who receives concerns, requests, complaints, and inquiries from the members and processes them accordingly. As a member service specialist, you can work in a bank or any other membership-based organization where you can handle different cases touching on the members and potential members of that particular institution or organization.
Educational Requirements
To become a member services specialist, you can start with a high school diploma or a GED certificate. You, however, need to have customer service skills to handle this role. A higher position requires a bachelor’s degree or even a master’s degree in any relevant field.
Average Annual Salary
The average salary of a member services specialist is about $30,010 per year in the United States, according to Glassdoor statistics. However, the base pay depends on the industry and the level of education, among other factors.
8. Patient Care Coordinator
A patient care coordinator is tasked with working with the patients, assessing, supporting, planning, and managing their health needs and concerns. This works to help the patients in making their health choices. In addition, they communicate with the care providers, family members, and other concerned parties about the patient’s health status.
Educational Requirements
Most employers would need those who wish to become patient care coordinators to have a nursing degree or any other related field. These include degrees in public health, public health administration, and health management.
Average Annual Salary
According to different salary statistics, the average or the median salary of a patient care coordinator in the United States is about $67,490 annually. Different states and employers may have different figures regarding the remuneration of patient care coordinators and other health care professionals.
9. Social Media Customer Care Associate
A social media customer care associate is tasked with monitoring the company’s social media and other digital media platforms, creating engaging content, and optimizing the social media channels to meet the organization’s purpose. They also respond to customer queries via the company’s social media platforms.
Educational Requirements
Social media customer care associates must have a bachelor’s degree in communication, marketing, social media management, and any other related field. Most employers look for this when seeking to employ professionals to carry out the same functions I have mentioned.
Average Annual Salary
According to Glassdoor statistics, a social media customer care associate earns an average salary of about $49,861 annually. The base salary is, however, dependent on other factors such as the state, employer or industry, and level of educational qualifications and experience, among other factors.
10. Technical Support Engineer
As the name says, a technical support engineer is tasked with the technical aspects of the company. For example, they ensure that the computer hardware and software work efficiently and effectively. They also answer users’ technical questions and troubleshoot technical problems, among other functions.
Educational Requirements
A technical support engineer requires a bachelor’s degree in information technology or computer science. The minimum requirements can vary from one employer to another.
Average Annual Salary
The technical support engineer position is a high-paying customer service job in the industry. According to Glassdoor statistics, the average salary for this position is about $72,773 annually.
11. Personal Financial Advisor
A personal finance advisor works with banks and other investment institutions to help individuals make better financial choices. They help clients with matters concerning savings and investments, tax laws, stocks and bonds, and insurance, among other functions.
Educational Requirements
Most employers seeking to recruit for this position will prefer graduates with a bachelor’s degree in business with majors in finance, economics, accounting, or any other relevant specialization.
Average Annual Salary
According to various salary statistics, the average base salary of this position is about $59,751 in the United States. However, different employers offer different packages for this position based on experience, among other factors.
12. Accountant
An accountant is tasked with all manner of functions relating to financial transactions. That includes managing books of accounts, preparing annual budgets and forecasts, reconciliation, preparing financial statements, and managing profit and loss statements, among other functions.
Educational Requirements
To become an accountant in the customer service industry, you need a bachelor’s degree in accounting or business and any relevant professional qualification. The minimum requirements will vary depending on the employer.
Average Annual Salary
The average salary for accountants in customer service in the United States is about $59,454 per year. This is according to Talent statistics, which can vary depending on qualifications, employer, and experience.
13. Financial Manager
A financial manager is a professional tasked with managing all the financial matters of the company or organization. That could include matters to do with investing, expenditure, planning, and financing. A financial manager, therefore, is responsible for ensuring the sound financial health of the company or organization.
Educational Requirements
To become a financial manager, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in any business-related field, preferably in finance. Professional qualifications as well is an added advantage.
Average Annual Salary
According to Indeed job statistics, a finance manager’s average salary is about $90,876 annually. This can vary from one state to another and depending on the experience level, among other factors.
14. Compliance Analyst
As the name suggests, a compliance analyst works to ensure that the company’s or organization’s procedures and operations adhere to the government requirements and standards of operation. Therefore, they research, analyze, communicate, and work to obtain the required approvals from relevant government departments, among other functions.
Educational Requirements
A compliance analyst is similar to that of a compliance officer in terms of qualifications. You need some background in business-related fields, preferably a bachelor’s degree in business administration or related capabilities.
Average Annual Salary
According to PayScale, the average salary of a compliance analyst in the United States is about $60,534 per year. This can vary from employer, city or state, and experience, among other factors.
15. Private Equity Associate
A private equity associate is tasked with analyzing the market for investment opportunities through sourcing and maintaining the investment position, among other functions. They also do due diligence and process the market in order to make long-term investment decisions, among other functions. These professionals work for investment institutions, mergers and acquisitions, and banks.
Educational Requirements
To qualify for a position as a private equity associate, you need a bachelor’s degree in business and with majors in finance, economics, statistics, or accounting, among other related qualifications.
Average Annual Salary
According to PayScale, the average salary of a private equity associate in the United States is about $96,614 per year. Different employers, however, have different packages depending on experience, among other factors.
16. Loan Officer
A loan officer processes the loan documents by individuals or groups, evaluates their credit worthiness, interviews individuals and groups, and determines whether they qualify for a loan or not. They also set a repayment plan for the clients to ensure timely repayment of the loan and interests.
Educational Requirements
To qualify for a loan officer position, you need a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field, preferably finance or accounting. Any other related professional qualification is an added advantage.
Average Annual Salary
Loan officers earn decently depending on their experience level, qualifications, and employer, among other factors. On average, one can earn about $70,044 per year.
17. Financial Software Engineer
A financial software engineer is tasked with many functions, including developing, maintaining, modifying, and updating the software platforms and programs of the banking industry or any financial institution. This ensures a seamless operation between the bank users and the end-user clients.
Educational Requirements
It would help if you had a bachelor’s degree in software engineering, IT, or computer science proficiency in programming languages to qualify for this position.
Average Annual Salary
Financial software engineers earn a decent salary of about $102,166 per year in the United States, according to Zip Recruiter statistics. This can vary from one state to another and depending on the employer.
18. Compliance Officer
The duties of a compliance officer are related to that of the compliance analyst. They work to ensure that the organization, institution, or company complies with the government’s regulatory provisions and legal requirements. In addition, they analyze the bylaws and internal policies of the organization to ensure that all the standard regulatory procedures are adhered to.
Educational Requirements
To become a compliance officer, you need a bachelor’s degree in business administration or any related field. However, some employers prefer to employ candidates with relevant skills and master’s degrees in the same area.
Average Annual Salary
Compliance officers earn well depending on their level of experience and other qualifications. According to Glassdoor salary statistics, this job pays about $81,870 per year in the United States.
19. Hedge Fund Managers
As the name suggests, a hedge fund manager manages investments on behalf of the clients. They analyze the market and make investment decisions for the clients. In addition, they work to raise investment capital and rebalance investments, among other functions.
Educational Requirements
This position requires a bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, economics, or accounting, among other related fields.
Average Annual Salary
Hedge fund managers can earn an average of about $145,437 per year, according to PayScale. This salary depends on education, employer, and experience, among other factors.
20. Investment Banker
An investment banker performs three primary functions: investigations, research, and analysis, distribution, and underwriting. This revolves around meeting clients, running financial projections, preparing offers, and helping clients raise money from capital markets.
Educational Requirements
To become an investment banker, you need a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field. For a senior position, you may need to have a master’s degree in any business-related field, depending on the job description.
Average Annual Salary
An investment banker can earn about $102,295 per year on average, according to PayScale salary statistics. But, of course, this is different from one employer to another and depends on one’s experience level.
21. Bank Teller
As the name suggests, a bank teller works in banks to help clients make financial transactions such as cash deposits, cash withdrawals, making payments, and resolving complaints regarding their accounts. They also receive loan payments and deposits, issue savings withdrawals, and cash out checks, among other functions.
Educational Requirements
Some bank teller jobs need a high school diploma or equivalent qualifications, while other employers prefer a degree in any relevant field.
Average Annual Salary
According to Talent salary statistics, the average salary for this position in the United States is $29,630 per year. However, most experienced workers in this field can earn more depending on other factors such as the employer, state, and educational qualifications.
22. Online Chat Support
An online chat support specialist, as the name suggests, works with any organization or company and deals with helping clients online through chat support. A chat support agent or specialist assists customers by answering their queries and addressing their concerns through an online messaging live chat, among other functions.
Educational Requirements
To become an online chat support agent, you need to have basic computer skills and at least a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification. Some companies, however, may require some advanced studies in information technology or any related field.
Average Annual Salary
According to Zip Recruiter, the average salary for chat support jobs in the United States is $43,975 per year. However, the pay can vary based on your job description, experience, and employer.
23. Flight Attendant
A flight attendant works to help passengers on a plane, greets them, helps them locate their seats, assists in stowing carry-on luggage, takes orders from passengers, and conducts all the safety checks needed before the plane takes off.
Educational Requirements
A flight attendant position doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree. You are good to go with a minimum of a high school diploma or GED qualifications. Some of the airlines, however, may need advanced levels of studies in any relevant field.
Average Annual Salary
Glassdoor statistics indicate that the average national base salary for flight attendants in the United States is about $47,563 annually. This, however, depends on the airline, among other factors.
24. Medical Receptionist
A medical receptionist works in a hospital or a health center to help patients with their concerns and needs. They receive the patients, responsible for scheduling appointments, sending appointment reminders, and registering patients as per the hospital’s protocols and procedures, among other duties.
Educational Requirements
To become a medical receptionist, you don’t necessarily need a degree. However, you can pursue this career in any medical facility with at least a high school diploma or GED. Some institutions, however, offer certificate programs for medical receptionists, which would be an added advantage for securing this job.
Average Annual Salary
According to different statistics, the average salary of a medical receptionist in the United States is about $37,297 per year. This, however, can vary from one employer to another.
25. Help Desk Analyst
A help desk analyst is a tech professional who works with the company or organization to help customers with their requests. They ensure that the computer system operates seamlessly so that the customers or end users can perform their tasks efficiently. A help desk analyst’s roles can vary from employer to employer.
Educational Requirements
This position will require you to have an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree with some background in information technology. The requirements vary based on the job description and industry.
Average Annual Salary
According to Zip Recruiter statistics for this job, the average salary you can earn as a help desk analyst is about $46,859 annually. But, of course, it can vary depending on your employer and your experience.
26. Technical Support Representative
A technical support representative is a professional or an IT savvy personnel that works to provide technical assistance with computer software and hardware. They also answer users’ questions, ensuring that the computer software and hardware function seamlessly, among other functions.
Educational Requirements
A career as a technical support representative requires a background in a technical field such as computer science or IT. It is a technical job that pays well, and the minimum education requirements depend on the employer.
Average Annual Salary
Most salary statistics show the average salary of a technical support representative at about $38,960 per year. However, this can vary depending on the industry and the experience level, among other factors.
27. Event Planner
An event planner, also referred to as an event coordinator or events manager, works with corporate organizations, companies, and institutions to help plan events, meet clients and suppliers, partner with service providers or vendors, and manage every other aspect related to the event. This involves choosing and arranging the venues, hiring performers, coordinating logistics, and planning for catering services, among other functions.
Educational Requirements
Suppose you are aspiring to become an event planner. In that case, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in a business-related field or area of specialization such as marketing, logistics, hospitality, or public relations. You also need to possess organizational and technical skills for the job.
Average Annual Salary
According to PayScale and other salary statistics, the average salary of an events planner is about $51,355 annually. However, the pay may vary from state to state, based on experience, among other factors.
28. Marketing Manager
A marketing manager works to help the company in brand awareness, selling products or services, and implementing a marketing strategy. The roles of a marketing manager can vary from one company to another. However, the main ones are the promotion of the product or service and overseeing all the company’s marketing campaigns.
Educational Requirements
To become a marketing manager, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in any business field, preferably in marketing. However, any other relevant area such as communication is also considered.
Average Annual Salary
A marketing manager’s position earns well. According to different salary statistics, the average salary for this position is about $105,295 per year. The salary, however, can vary from company to company, depending on the roles and responsibilities, among other factors.
29. Travel Agent
The primary role or function of a travel agent is to help clients with their travel plans. This includes choosing travel destinations, making reservations, informing clients on passport and visa requirements, making accommodation plans on behalf of the clients, and advising clients based on their concerns, needs, and priorities about their trips, among other functions.
Educational Requirements
To become a travel agent, you don’t need a bachelor’s degree, but advanced studies in this field will open up more opportunities that pay well. With at least a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification coupled with the required skills, you can start a career as a travel agent.
Average Annual Salary
According to the Salary Explorer statistics, the average salary of a travel agent is about $61,300 per year in the United States. However, this tends to vary from one state to another and from one employer to another.
Pros And Cons Of A Job In Consumer Services
Consumer service is a vast industry with many opportunities and careers for different professionals, and the functions are targeted to the end user of the product or consumer. There are so many advantages and also disadvantages that come with working in a customer services industry, and this includes the following:
Pros
- Most jobs don’t need advanced education levels.
- Some jobs come with commissions and bonuses.
- On-the-job training helps one to grow professionally.
- Most consumer service jobs pay well.
- One can gain essential customer service skills.
- Most of the jobs have flexible shifts.
Cons
- Long working hours, including weekends.
- Most of the jobs in consumer services have irregular shifts.
- You may be tasked with a lot of responsibilities that are demanding and stressful.
Final Thoughts
As you have noted, consumer service is a vast industry packed with all jobs targeting the end-user or consumer of the product or services. Most of these jobs pay well, and most only need one to have at least a high school diploma or GED qualifications.
Therefore, if you are passionate about this industry, you can apply to any company or organization whether you have a degree or have just acquired a high school diploma.
