Whether you already work in customer care or know someone who does, it’s highly likely you’ve come across consumer services in the UK in one form or another. On the face of things, helping customers with all kinds of queries can seem like a bit of a thankless task.
That’s where you’d be wrong! There are plenty of consumer service roles in the UK that pay handsomely for your time. In this guide, I’ll take you through some of the more surprising (and most lucrative) opportunities waiting for you to try.
Want the quick lowdown? Here are the best-paid customer service jobs in the UK right now:
- Hotel or resort front desk manager
- Technical support
- Patient care coordinator
- Hotel concierge
- Call centre operative
- Bank clerk
- Medical receptionist
Keep reading, and I’ll fill you in on how much you could make in these roles (provided you give them your all!).
What are consumer service jobs?
Consumer service jobs, sometimes also called customer service jobs, are positions where you provide assistance to customers or buyers. That is to say, they are jobs that require employees to give advice, make recommendations, take orders, answer questions, and complete sales.
These jobs entail making sure the consumer, or customer, has the best overall experience possible with an employing company.
One of the great things about consumer service jobs is their diversity. You could work in leisure and hotelling, for example, in retail, in contact centre setups, or through online chat.
Either way, these positions might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but many pay well in line with the rising cost of living, and they’re great for those of us who love working with others (and making positive differences)!
Why should you work in consumer services?
If you need more of a gentle nudge toward working in consumer services, or you’re not sure if these types of roles are right for you, here are a few quick points to consider before I crack on with the list of top payers.
They pay well
Depending on the industry you choose, consumer service jobs can pay well – from entry-level at around £18,000 all the way up to £37,000-plus. As always, it’s important to research before jumping into any position, especially in consumer services – as some entry-level jobs may not offer much room for progression or wage increase.
You get to meet new people
One of the best things about consumer services is that you’ll be highly social – provided that’s something you enjoy! You’ll be customers’ main point of contact, so you will likely meet people from all walks of life.
You will also be in a position where you will need to communicate with other members of your team and even other organisations when necessary.
If you have a fairly low ‘social battery’ and prefer jobs where you work solo, work online, or things are a little quieter, it’s worth looking into back-office roles, instead.
You’ll feel accomplished
Deep at the heart of customer care, you will face various tasks and goals every day. And while that may sound difficult to balance, it is the perfect proving ground for born problem-solvers.
No two days are ever likely to be the same, which can lead to a fantastic sense of self-accomplishment. What’s more, delivering great customer service takes a particular level of nerve and confidence!
There are often opportunities to earn more and progress:
While some consumer service positions are limited in where you can go and how you can develop, you’ll typically find there’s opportunities to earn more as you become more experienced and more confident.
However, again, wage rises and career development are never guaranteed. Look for consumer roles where you can enter management positions or at least earn bonuses if you’re hungry to develop.
You can often work from home or go hybrid
Given the rise of home working in recent years, many have found that consumer service roles do not have to involve face-to-face interaction. In fact, you can be just as useful to your clients while working at home as you would be in your place of work!
This means that plenty of positions allow their workers to work from the comfort of home or at least in a hybrid role. This flexibility is massively appealing for millions of us – so prioritise it when looking around!
The best-paying jobs in UK consumer services
From my research, I’ve found that the following positions, even at entry-level, are currently the best-paying consumer service jobs in the UK.
Remember, however, that the salaries listed are averages – and the wages you might expect when onboarding may vary from firm to firm. Consider this a template of sorts to help you move in the right direction!
Here are a few roles and positions you’ll want to look for if you want to make bank from helping customers.
Hotel or resort front desk manager (up to £37,000 per year)
A front desk manager is there to manage and train a hotel or resort’s front desk team. That means you’re caring for everyone, from the night auditors and concierges to the receptionists.
Their duties also include ensuring the entrances to a resort or hotel are pristine, secure, and – naturally – dealing with customers. Regarding consumers, the front desk manager typically greets guests, answers phone calls, makes reservations, and addresses complaints.
The great news is there is plenty of room to grow in this position. In the first two years, you will generally be considered an entry-level front desk manager, with the possibility to advance further in your career (and build a higher wage over time, too)!
Additionally making a salary of close to £40k per year is pretty decent!
Technical support (up to £27,000 per year)
Or, for many of us, those people you call if you’ve tried ‘turning it off and on again’! A technical support representative, naturally, needs technical skills and a problem-solving mindset to help their customers with their software, apps, hardware, and connectivity.
If you love solving tech issues and are happy to deep-dive into a product or two, there are tons of tech support positions available up and down the UK, and they’re frequently pretty well-paid.
One of the great things about this position is that you may work from home, or from a call centre, depending on the company and your preferences. You might even end up leading a team! Not to mention that a salary of close to £30k per year is considered decent.
Salaries in the sector can actually be quite spectacular. Did you know that the IT and communications sector the have the highest median incomes in the UK? So if you’re looking to move up the ladder over time, this would be a great role to start in.
Patient care coordinator (up to £24,000 per year)
Now, we’re looking at something a little more specialist. If you’re keen to break into healthcare and medicine, patient care coordination is a fantastic route forward.
A patient care coordinator supervises a clinic or hospital’s patients and ensures they get efficient and appropriate care for their needs. For example, they may be required to bring various specialists together to help treat a patient’s illness or condition.
Some companies do offer the possibility for promotions in this career path, but always check before applying. You might wish to look at moving to parallel positions elsewhere in healthcare.
Hotel concierge (up to £21,000 per year)
A concierge tends to be a guest’s favourite employee in any hotel or resort! They help guests find transportation, restaurants, entertainment, and hotel information. They make reservations, travel arrangements, and more.
Concierges can work within businesses, or even from home, depending on the company in question. You’re frequently supervised by front desk managers (see above).
Call centre operative (up to £20,000 per year)
Call centre operatives are found working from home more often now than ever before, but the jobs remain largely unchanged – it’s remote customer care.
Whether in-office or at home, your main duties in this role include answering customer emails and phone calls. These include queries, questions, complaints, and even positive feedback every now and then!
You’ll need to be a great communicator and problem-solver – and yes, call centre work can be stressful, so find a company or industry that really appeals to you. You could progress into management, too.
Bank clerk (up to £20,000 per year)
Bank clerks help customers complete and manage their financial transactions. They also greet and assist their customers with any queries or simple bank operations they need to complete (such as withdrawals, deposits, transfers, and so on).
This is a job where you would typically have to work in a physical bank location, but there are plenty of options for promotion – meaning giving up home working might just be worth your while.
Medical receptionist (up to £18,000 per year)
As a medical receptionist, you will typically work at a hospital, clinic, or private practice. Your duties will include answering phones, helping walk-in patients, making appointments, and sending out reminders and notifications.
However, depending on the size of the organisation, there may not be many opportunities for promotion via this role.
What skills do you need to work in consumer care?
Now you’ve seen what you could earn in consumer care, it’s time to quickly consider some key skills for excelling in such positions. If you’re great at any of the following, you’ll likely have no problem fitting in as a customer service rep.
Empathy
Your clients and customers need to know that you care about their concerns, queries, questions, and complaints. And, to prove that you do, you will need a certain amount of empathy. This is especially the case when working in the medical field – receptionists, for example, always need to be kind and empathetic with their patients.
Communication
Communication is key in all consumer service roles. You’ll need to give advice, translate complex instructions, and be an active listener – that means paying attention to what your customers have to say and going the extra mile to help!
Flexibility
As mentioned above, no two days in consumer care are the same. Therefore, you’ll probably do well in fast-paced consumer service if you’re great at thinking on your feet and reliable in a crisis.
Positivity
A positive attitude really is key. And while that can be very difficult, especially when dealing with difficult customers! You should ideally always look for positive solutions – even when things seem difficult or improbable.
Patience
Above all, patience is a virtue and one you will need in consumer services! Keeping patient with difficult customers can be difficult and is often a skill many consumer service workers learn on the job, but it is key, especially if you want to advance in your career (and earn some of the top rates listed in this guide).
Before You Go…
We’ve covered the best paying jobs in customer service in the UK and talked about the salaries you can expect to generate. But curious about what truly makes a good salary in the UK? We’ve got an income percentile calculator for the UK that will help you gauge your income against other people in the your age group, people in your chosen profession, and even in the country or your chosen region!
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