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Administrative support assistant vs front desk administrative assistant

The differences between administrative support assistants and front desk administrative 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 support assistant and a front desk administrative assistant. Additionally, an administrative support assistant has an average salary of $36,341, which is higher than the $33,037 average annual salary of a front desk administrative assistant.

The top three skills for an administrative support assistant include customer service, provides administrative support and data entry. The most important skills for a front desk administrative assistant are customer service, patients, and data entry.

Administrative support assistant vs front desk administrative assistant overview

Administrative Support AssistantFront Desk Administrative Assistant
Yearly salary$36,341$33,037
Hourly rate$17.47$15.88
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs118,51295,732
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age5050
Years of experience22

What does an administrative support assistant do?

Administrative support assistants are individuals who provide support to employees and managers. They provide assistance in general functions in various administrative or academic units. Their primary duties involve the management and dissemination of information within an organization. They take memos, maintain files, and answer phone calls. They should develop skills in technology, written and verbal communication, independence, and organization. Excellent skills in problem-solving, time management, and attention to detail are also important.

What does a front desk administrative assistant do?

A front desk administrative assistant is responsible for performing administrative duties to support daily business functions and operations. Front desk administrative assistants assist guests, respond to their inquiries and concerns, and direct them to the appropriate personnel for their needs. They also monitor office inventories, write purchase requests, and distribute mails across the departments. A front desk administrative assistants review business and financial transactions to generate reports, update information on the company's database, and sort documents for reference.

Administrative support assistant vs front desk administrative assistant salary

Administrative support assistants and front desk administrative assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Administrative Support AssistantFront Desk Administrative Assistant
Average salary$36,341$33,037
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $44,000Between $27,000 And $39,000
Highest paying CitySeaTac, WASpringfield, MA
Highest paying stateHawaiiConnecticut
Best paying companyBrookhaven National LaboratoryUniversity of California, Berkeley
Best paying industryGovernmentProfessional

Differences between administrative support assistant and front desk administrative assistant education

There are a few differences between an administrative support assistant and a front desk administrative assistant in terms of educational background:

Administrative Support AssistantFront Desk Administrative Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University

Administrative support assistant vs front desk administrative assistant demographics

Here are the differences between administrative support assistants' and front desk administrative assistants' demographics:

Administrative Support AssistantFront Desk Administrative Assistant
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 16.6% Female, 83.4%Male, 10.0% Female, 90.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between administrative support assistant and front desk administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

Administrative support assistant example responsibilities.

  • Participate in committee meetings by preparing minutes and presentation summaries, planning meeting agendas, and organizing and managing meeting logistics.
  • Coordinate highly confidential and sensitive material relate to employee relations, payroll and personnel actions.
  • Complete diverse administrative tasks accurately and efficiently including verification of insurance information, payroll administration, and coordination of department meetings.
  • Create PowerPoint's of upcoming activities/events to distribute to departments/teams.
  • Interview patients and determine primary need of interest by providing assistance to other responsible personnel.
  • Maintain a database with confidential information regarding patients and providing medication for the HIV/AIDS section.
  • Show more

Front desk administrative assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage day-to-day operations including scheduling and coordinating appointments, verify patient insurance, prepare correspondences between medical providers and their patients.
  • Process member and team member paperwork; including member cancellations, updates, new hires/terminations/status changes, and payroll paperwork.
  • Monitor and complete payroll information.
  • Demonstrate great initiative in assisting tech team with minor technical issues and create PowerPoint presentations for business strategic purposes.
  • Register patients, verify eligibility of insurance, interview them in order to obtain other demographic information that are needed.
  • Manage day-to-day operations including scheduling and coordinating appointments, verify patient insurance, prepare correspondences between medical providers and their patients.
  • Show more

Administrative support assistant vs front desk administrative assistant skills

Common administrative support assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Provides Administrative Support, 6%
  • Data Entry, 6%
  • Patients, 5%
  • Travel Arrangements, 4%
  • Phone Calls, 4%
Common front desk administrative assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Patients, 12%
  • Data Entry, 8%
  • Phone Calls, 8%
  • Front Desk Operations, 7%
  • Check-In, 4%

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