What a customer service representative costs in 2026
The median customer service representative in the United States earned $44,770 a year, $21.53 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 survey. With benefits at a small employer, a full-time customer service representative at the median costs about $60,400 a year, or about $5,000 a month.
The middle half of customer service representatives earn $36,870 to $51,780. There are 2,595,750 of them across the country, and what one costs you depends most on where you are: Washington has the highest median at $50,330, and Mississippi the lowest of the 50 states at $36,380.
Liaison does the routine half of a customer service representative’s job for 12% of that. See how.
What a customer service representative would cost you
Pick a state or a metro area and the hours you need. The cost is the median hourly wage there plus benefits at the rate you choose.
Customer service representative, the United States, 40 hours a week
$60,459 a year
$5,038 a month. Wages $44,782 at the median of $21.53 an hour, plus $15,677 in benefits. The middle half of customer service representatives here earn $36,870 to $51,780 in wages.
Customer service representative wages and cost by state
Median wage, May 2025. The cost column adds benefits at the rate for employers with 1 to 49 workers (35% on top of wages).
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Cost to a small employer | Middle half earns | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,400 | $18.46 | $51,843 | $34,370 to $46,500 | 33,290 |
| Alaska | $45,150 | $21.71 | $60,956 | $38,560 to $52,730 | 2,410 |
| Arizona | $45,690 | $21.97 | $61,685 | $37,880 to $51,610 | 87,020 |
| Arkansas | $37,840 | $18.19 | $51,087 | $33,830 to $46,630 | 20,680 |
| California | $49,560 | $23.83 | $66,910 | $44,200 to $61,510 | 176,850 |
| Colorado | $47,540 | $22.86 | $64,182 | $40,380 to $57,420 | 38,770 |
| Connecticut | $48,090 | $23.12 | $64,925 | $40,460 to $60,010 | 24,490 |
| Delaware | $48,190 | $23.17 | $65,060 | $39,310 to $59,910 | 7,470 |
| District of Columbia | $48,250 | $23.20 | $65,141 | $40,400 to $62,560 | 7,550 |
| Florida | $40,440 | $19.44 | $54,597 | $36,400 to $47,860 | 228,000 |
| Georgia | $39,630 | $19.06 | $53,503 | $34,460 to $48,120 | 97,850 |
| Guam | $30,350 | $14.59 | $40,975 | $25,030 to $37,060 | 720 |
| Hawaii | $45,650 | $21.95 | $61,631 | $38,120 to $51,620 | 8,010 |
| Idaho | $43,200 | $20.77 | $58,323 | $36,110 to $49,340 | 18,770 |
| Illinois | $46,130 | $22.18 | $62,279 | $37,680 to $58,050 | 100,970 |
| Indiana | $43,140 | $20.74 | $58,242 | $36,090 to $50,320 | 44,630 |
| Iowa | $46,090 | $22.16 | $62,225 | $37,880 to $54,880 | 30,100 |
| Kansas | $40,320 | $19.39 | $54,435 | $34,860 to $48,410 | 29,200 |
| Kentucky | $38,700 | $18.61 | $52,248 | $35,290 to $47,800 | 38,630 |
| Louisiana | $37,330 | $17.95 | $50,398 | $31,960 to $44,770 | 25,780 |
| Maine | $47,160 | $22.67 | $63,669 | $38,340 to $51,420 | 7,560 |
| Maryland | $42,830 | $20.59 | $57,824 | $36,430 to $50,490 | 37,740 |
| Massachusetts | $49,120 | $23.61 | $66,316 | $41,500 to $61,090 | 49,990 |
| Michigan | $43,950 | $21.13 | $59,336 | $36,150 to $50,060 | 71,310 |
| Minnesota | $48,800 | $23.46 | $65,884 | $41,330 to $59,810 | 53,340 |
| Mississippi | $36,380 | $17.49 | $49,116 | $31,520 to $44,510 | 20,860 |
| Missouri | $44,190 | $21.24 | $59,660 | $36,480 to $51,040 | 50,530 |
| Montana | $45,290 | $21.77 | $61,145 | $39,500 to $50,120 | 4,910 |
| Nebraska | $43,940 | $21.13 | $59,322 | $37,250 to $49,810 | 15,340 |
| Nevada | $40,560 | $19.50 | $54,759 | $35,740 to $47,390 | 32,110 |
| New Hampshire | $47,300 | $22.74 | $63,858 | $38,040 to $58,310 | 12,750 |
| New Jersey | $47,740 | $22.95 | $64,452 | $39,410 to $59,070 | 59,690 |
| New Mexico | $39,030 | $18.77 | $52,693 | $35,890 to $47,070 | 16,950 |
| New York | $48,000 | $23.08 | $64,803 | $40,360 to $60,280 | 141,090 |
| North Carolina | $40,240 | $19.35 | $54,327 | $34,960 to $48,590 | 89,510 |
| North Dakota | $44,670 | $21.48 | $60,308 | $38,580 to $54,060 | 5,750 |
| Ohio | $45,610 | $21.93 | $61,577 | $37,440 to $52,510 | 85,930 |
| Oklahoma | $38,650 | $18.58 | $52,180 | $34,400 to $46,920 | 34,460 |
| Oregon | $47,450 | $22.81 | $64,061 | $41,360 to $55,660 | 19,440 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,630 | $21.46 | $60,254 | $36,760 to $51,750 | 94,340 |
| Puerto Rico | $26,700 | $12.84 | $36,047 | $22,760 to $31,200 | 20,330 |
| Rhode Island | $47,550 | $22.86 | $64,196 | $41,600 to $57,530 | 7,890 |
| South Carolina | $38,860 | $18.69 | $52,464 | $34,940 to $47,090 | 51,000 |
| South Dakota | $40,650 | $19.54 | $54,880 | $36,470 to $48,290 | 6,120 |
| Tennessee | $42,830 | $20.59 | $57,824 | $36,130 to $48,670 | 59,730 |
| Texas | $40,420 | $19.44 | $54,570 | $35,420 to $48,300 | 337,170 |
| Utah | $43,140 | $20.74 | $58,242 | $37,120 to $49,370 | 44,490 |
| Vermont | $47,500 | $22.84 | $64,128 | $40,630 to $58,340 | 2,870 |
| Virgin Islands | $37,140 | $17.85 | $50,142 | $34,680 to $40,320 | 320 |
| Virginia | $42,730 | $20.54 | $57,689 | $35,940 to $49,940 | 59,850 |
| Washington | $50,330 | $24.20 | $67,949 | $44,780 to $61,330 | 39,760 |
| West Virginia | $38,430 | $18.48 | $51,883 | $34,440 to $48,500 | 9,860 |
| Wisconsin | $46,970 | $22.58 | $63,413 | $38,780 to $56,600 | 50,840 |
| Wyoming | $42,340 | $20.35 | $57,162 | $36,610 to $49,130 | 2,110 |
Highest and lowest paying metro areas
Out of the 392 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for customer service representatives. The lowest list covers the 50 states and DC; the calculator above has every metro area, Puerto Rico’s included.
| Highest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,480 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $57,830 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $53,550 |
| Napa, CA | $53,360 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $51,810 |
| Lowest | Median annual |
|---|---|
| Albany, GA | $33,190 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $33,980 |
| Hot Springs, AR | $34,150 |
| Sebring, FL | $34,330 |
| Laredo, TX | $34,420 |
The routine part of the customer service representative’s job
Much of what a customer service representative does every week is routine: the follow-ups, the reconciling, the scheduling, the reports pulled together from three systems. That routine part is what Liaison does, inside the tools the business already runs: $629 a month on Professional, set up with you, or $149 a month self-serve. The judgment stays with your people.
The routine half of a customer service representative’s job, for 12% of what one costs.
- Answers routine customer questions from the actual record: the order, the invoice, the appointment.
- Handles the reschedule and the status check in your voice; a complaint goes to a person.
- Logs every exchange against the customer, so nothing is asked twice.
Professional is $629 a month, $7,548 a year, against about $60,400 a year for a customer service representative at the median once benefits are added. On Professional we connect your tools, bring your data in and set up the first rules with you. Anything that moves money waits for your yes.
“Cut our month-end close from 4 days to 4 hours.” Marcus C., owner
$629 a month, or $500 a month on a 12-month term. Prefer to start on your own? Starter is $149 a month, self-serve, with a free trial first: 7 days, no card. More: AI office manager.
Questions
How much does a customer service representative cost a small business?
The median customer service representative earned $44,770 a year, or $21.53 an hour, in May 2025. Benefits at employers with fewer than 50 workers add 35% on top of wages (June 2026), so a full-time customer service representative at the median costs about $60,400 a year. The middle half earn $36,870 to $51,780.
Which states pay customer service representatives the most?
Washington ($50,330), California ($49,560) and Massachusetts ($49,120) have the highest median wage for customer service representatives. The lowest among the 50 states and DC are Mississippi ($36,380), Louisiana ($37,330) and Arkansas ($37,840).
Which metro areas pay customer service representatives the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($60,480), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($57,830) and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($53,550), out of the 392 metro areas where BLS publishes a median for customer service representatives.
Where does this data come from?
Wages are the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for May 2025, occupation 43-4051. The benefit cost is from the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation release for June 2026. Recruiting, training, equipment and turnover are not included.
See it on your own business.
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