How much does a customer service rep make?
a year · about $22 an hour
A typical customer service rep in the United States makes $44,770 a year, about $22 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They answer questions by phone, email, chat, or social media and check an account or order on a computer. They solve problems such as billing or returns, record what happened, and send harder cases to a supervisor.
Did you know? Some U.S. reps can work from home, but supervisors may monitor their calls to check quality.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $31,750 and $63,590How do you become one?
Most U.S. reps need a high school diploma or equivalent, but no related experience. Employers train them on the job; some finance or insurance roles require extra training and a state license exam.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experienced reps may earn more, and some finance or insurance jobs need extra training or a state license. Pay also varies by employer and industry, location, hours worked, and how complex or specialized the tasks are.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($50,330), lowest in Mississippi ($36,380).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 | about 2.6 million |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $50,330 | about 40,000 |
| California | $49,560 | about 177,000 |
| Massachusetts | $49,120 | about 50,000 |
| Minnesota | $48,800 | about 53,000 |
| District of Columbia | $48,250 | about 8,000 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/customer-service-representativ
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/43-4051.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY