Administrative functional support vs administrative associate

The differences between administrative functional supports and administrative associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an administrative functional support, becoming an administrative associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an administrative functional support has an average salary of $54,677, which is higher than the $34,873 average annual salary of an administrative associate.

The top three skills for an administrative functional support include generate reports, human resources and functional unit processes. The most important skills for an administrative associate are administrative tasks, purchase orders, and customer service.

Administrative functional support vs administrative associate overview

	Administrative Functional Support	Administrative Associate
Yearly salary	$54,677	$34,873
Hourly rate	$26.29	$16.77
Growth rate	-8%	-8%
Number of jobs	103,296	54,499
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	47	50
Years of experience	6	2

What does an administrative functional support do?

Administrative functional supports generally work on clerical activities like preparing documents and reports, scheduling meetings, analyzing data for budgetary expenditures, etc. These professionals keep their organization's confidential information, act as middlemen between internal and external contacts, and organize special events or programs. They assist in the production, designing, and development of company publications. Also, they are in charge of cascading routine and general information about process updates and standard procedures to the staff. There are four levels of work on this job, each requiring a different degree of experience and education.

What does an administrative associate do?

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.

Administrative functional support vs administrative associate salary

Administrative functional supports and administrative associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Administrative Functional Support	Administrative Associate
Average salary	$54,677	$34,873
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $84,000	Between $23,000 And $51,000
Highest paying City	-	Washington, DC
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	Lord Abbett
Best paying industry	-	Finance

Differences between administrative functional support and administrative associate education

There are a few differences between an administrative functional support and an administrative associate in terms of educational background:

	Administrative Functional Support	Administrative Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	Western Carolina University

Administrative functional support vs administrative associate demographics

Here are the differences between administrative functional supports' and administrative associates' demographics:

	Administrative Functional Support	Administrative Associate
Average age	47	50
Gender ratio	Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0%	Male, 21.6% Female, 78.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 5.1% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%	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%
LGBT Percentage	8%	6%

Differences between administrative functional support and administrative associate duties and responsibilities

Administrative functional support example responsibilities.

Assist SVP with managing transition to effectively disband correspondent department and close office.
Register new patients and update existing patient's demographics by collecting patient detail patient's information including personal and financial information.
Process subpoenas and unemployment claims.

Administrative associate example responsibilities.

Manage consultants' calendar, arrange travel, paid bills via QuickBooks software.
Support medical doctors, manage sensitive and confidential records pertaining to high risk patients with emphasis on accuracy.
Enter invoices in QuickBooks and P2P.
Fulfill medical record requests from patients, providers and insurance companies in a HIPAA compliant way.
Prepare PowerPoint presentations and address day to day general operations and office procedures.
Prepare PowerPoint & other digital media for presentations that are distributed to upper management.

Administrative functional support vs administrative associate skills

Common administrative functional support skills

Generate Reports, 16%
Human Resources, 13%
Functional Unit Processes, 9%
Word Processing, 7%
SharePoint, 6%
Business, 5%

Common administrative associate skills

Administrative Tasks, 12%
Purchase Orders, 10%
Customer Service, 10%
Telephone Calls, 9%
Travel Arrangements, 9%
Patients, 8%

Administrative Functional Support vs. similar jobs

Administrative Functional Support related careers

Administrative Functional Support related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Office and Administrative Industry
Administrative Functional Support
Administrative Functional Support vs Administrative Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs