Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between administrative associates and administrative office specialists 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 associate and an administrative office specialist. Additionally, an administrative office specialist has an average salary of $35,177, which is higher than the $34,873 average annual salary of an administrative associate.
The top three skills for an administrative associate include administrative tasks, purchase orders and customer service. The most important skills for an administrative office specialist are customer service, data entry, and word processing.
| Administrative Associate | Administrative Office Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $34,873 | $35,177 |
| Hourly rate | $16.77 | $16.91 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 54,499 | 96,945 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An administrative associate is responsible for performing various tasks such as handling and processing paperwork, attending meetings and preparing minutes, responding to inquiries and other forms of correspondence, keeping accurate records, updating databases, and monitoring the company's financial activities. They also communicate with various department personnel, ensuring coordination should any important matter would arise. Furthermore, as an administrative associate, they are in charge of procuring supplies, implementing company policies, and supporting any staff members if needed.
An administrative office specialist helps offices to run efficiently and smoothly by performing clerical support tasks. Their responsibilities often include preparing and processing documents, arranging meetings and appointments, monitoring the budgets and expenditures, answering calls and correspondence, handling the inventory and procurement of office supplies, and developing strategies to optimize office operations. They may also address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and professionally. Furthermore, as an administrative office specialist, it is essential to coordinate staff, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Administrative associates and administrative office specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Administrative Associate | Administrative Office Specialist | |
| Average salary | $34,873 | $35,177 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $51,000 | Between $28,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Lord Abbett | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Technology |
There are a few differences between an administrative associate and an administrative office specialist in terms of educational background:
| Administrative Associate | Administrative Office Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between administrative associates' and administrative office specialists' demographics:
| Administrative Associate | Administrative Office Specialist | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.6% Female, 78.4% | Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 4.0% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |