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The differences between administrative assistant/supervisors and senior administrative assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an administrative assistant/supervisor, becoming a senior administrative assistant takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a senior administrative assistant has an average salary of $46,790, which is higher than the $46,285 average annual salary of an administrative assistant/supervisor.
The top three skills for an administrative assistant/supervisor include customer service, payroll and front desk. The most important skills for a senior administrative assistant are powerpoint, customer service, and clerical support.
| Administrative Assistant/Supervisor | Senior Administrative Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $46,285 | $46,790 |
| Hourly rate | $22.25 | $22.50 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 44,235 | 43,226 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 50 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
An administrative assistant/supervisor is responsible for monitoring the overall administrative operations, supervising the administrative staff productivity, and ensuring that all tasks meet the deadline with high quality and efficiency. They also respond to clients' inquiries, manage concerns, and escalate high-level complaints to the appropriate department. An administrative assistant/supervisor also assists with developing strategies, analyzing current market trends to recommend services that would increase its revenues and profitability. This level requires excellent leadership and communication skills to manage staff and evaluate their performance.
A senior administrative assistant's role is to accomplish clerical tasks to support senior managers. Such tasks involve preparing and processing documents, responding to inquiries and other forms of correspondence, arranging travel and appointments, attending meetings, and managing schedules. Furthermore, a senior administrative assistant must maintain a precise record system, serve as the main point of contact for office visitors, and prepare budget reports and other business plans. It is also essential to coordinate with various company personnel, ensuring accuracy in all activities and projects.
Administrative assistant/supervisors and senior administrative assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Administrative Assistant/Supervisor | Senior Administrative Assistant | |
| Average salary | $46,285 | $46,790 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $63,000 | Between $34,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Glen Burnie, MD | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Minnesota State Fair | JPMorgan Chase & Co. |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between an administrative assistant/supervisor and a senior administrative assistant in terms of educational background:
| Administrative Assistant/Supervisor | Senior Administrative Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between administrative assistant/supervisors' and senior administrative assistants' demographics:
| Administrative Assistant/Supervisor | Senior Administrative Assistant | |
| Average age | 50 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 36.5% Female, 63.5% | Male, 8.0% Female, 92.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 10% |