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Administrative assistant/project coordinator vs project assistant

The differences between administrative assistant/project coordinators and project assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an administrative assistant/project coordinator and a project assistant. Additionally, an administrative assistant/project coordinator has an average salary of $38,876, which is higher than the $38,564 average annual salary of a project assistant.

The top three skills for an administrative assistant/project coordinator include powerpoint, purchase orders and database management. The most important skills for a project assistant are data entry, powerpoint, and customer service.

Administrative assistant/project coordinator vs project assistant overview

Administrative Assistant/Project CoordinatorProject Assistant
Yearly salary$38,876$38,564
Hourly rate$18.69$18.54
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs71,43459,664
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age5050
Years of experience22

What does an administrative assistant/project coordinator do?

An administrative assistant/project coordinator is primarily in charge of performing administrative support and organizational tasks to maintain the smooth flow of operations at offices. Their responsibilities often revolve around preparing and processing documents, handling calls and correspondence, arranging appointments and events, organizing files, relaying messages, disseminating documents, procuring supplies, and overseeing schedules. They must also set project guidelines and timelines, manage project budgets and activities, conduct research and risk assessments, and coordinate teams while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

What does a project assistant do?

A project assistant's role mainly revolves around assisting a project manager. The responsibilities may vary upon the industry or organization. Still, most of them will be administrative tasks such as preparing reports and documentation, responding to calls and other forms of correspondence, and coordinating with various offices and personnel. Furthermore, a Project Assistant must also ensure the department's efficient workflow, proper utilization of budget, review documentation and schedules, attend meetings, and maintain an information database.

Administrative assistant/project coordinator vs project assistant salary

Administrative assistant/project coordinators and project assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Administrative Assistant/Project CoordinatorProject Assistant
Average salary$38,876$38,564
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $52,000Between $25,000 And $57,000
Highest paying City-Portland, OR
Highest paying state-Oregon
Best paying company-AstraZeneca
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between administrative assistant/project coordinator and project assistant education

There are a few differences between an administrative assistant/project coordinator and a project assistant in terms of educational background:

Administrative Assistant/Project CoordinatorProject Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University

Administrative assistant/project coordinator vs project assistant demographics

Here are the differences between administrative assistant/project coordinators' and project assistants' demographics:

Administrative Assistant/Project CoordinatorProject Assistant
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 10.9% Female, 89.1%Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between administrative assistant/project coordinator and project assistant duties and responsibilities

Administrative assistant/project coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage electronic files and hard copies of technical documents in EDMS.
  • Manage quality assurance checks for FDA and internal audits which result in no documentation/information error and successful completion of the audits.
  • Assist with the upgrade of the EDMS from start to finish.
  • Provide change orders, RFI's for each project, back charge invoices.
  • Coordinate documents and transferring to GMP.
  • Write departmental work instructions, procedures and update forms for ISO conformance.
  • Show more

Project assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage SharePoint document repository and ensure that project managers comply with PMO policies.
  • Manage facilities by coordinating relocation of departments by using the facilities management database and VISIO.
  • Compose and balance departmental grants, tabulate and process payroll distribution, manage and maintain office routine during supervisor's absence.
  • Manage QA budget for assign projects by identifying actual and potential budget over-runs and under-runs, develop and monitor project/program plans.
  • Create a useful project tracking tool call JIRA.
  • Communicate with donors via phone, email, and twitter.
  • Show more

Administrative assistant/project coordinator vs project assistant skills

Common administrative assistant/project coordinator skills
  • PowerPoint, 9%
  • Purchase Orders, 9%
  • Database Management, 8%
  • Expense Reports, 6%
  • General Contractors, 6%
  • Meeting Minutes, 5%
Common project assistant skills
  • Data Entry, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 8%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Meeting Minutes, 4%
  • Data Collection, 4%

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