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Administrative support vs administrative associate

The differences between administrative supports and administrative associates 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 and an administrative associate. Additionally, an administrative support has an average salary of $37,692, which is higher than the $34,873 average annual salary of an administrative associate.

The top three skills for an administrative support include customer service, administrative tasks and data entry. The most important skills for an administrative associate are administrative tasks, purchase orders, and customer service.

Administrative support vs administrative associate overview

Administrative SupportAdministrative Associate
Yearly salary$37,692$34,873
Hourly rate$18.12$16.77
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs114,48054,499
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age5050
Years of experience22

What does an administrative support do?

Administrative support specialists provide different types of governmental assistance. They carry out varied clerical duties in almost all industries. Most of these duties revolve around supervising and distributing information within an organization. This typically includes taking memos, answering phone calls, and managing, storing, and organizing files. They are also responsible for receiving and sending correspondence and greeting customers and clients. Some administrative support may be required to have vast professional knowledge as their duties are more specialized than the others.

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 support vs administrative associate salary

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

Administrative SupportAdministrative Associate
Average salary$37,692$34,873
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $53,000Between $23,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCWashington, DC
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNew York
Best paying companyPacific Investment Management Company LLCLord Abbett
Best paying industryTechnologyFinance

Differences between administrative support and administrative associate education

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

Administrative SupportAdministrative Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University

Administrative support vs administrative associate demographics

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

Administrative SupportAdministrative Associate
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 20.4% Female, 79.6%Male, 21.6% Female, 78.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage6%6%

Differences between administrative support and administrative associate duties and responsibilities

Administrative support example responsibilities.

  • Manage company finances using QuickBooks software, including monitoring the operating budget and collecting on unpaid invoices.
  • Interview veterans to determine issues/concerns and recommend services.
  • Mail VA benefits correspondence to veterans and various organizations.
  • Prepare payroll packages for distribution and delivery, including collating and packing of documents.
  • Research and maintain reference library with ADAPCP in support of prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
  • Develop SharePoint training of project personal and create operating procedures, training documents and briefings.
  • Show more

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.
  • Show more

Administrative support vs administrative associate skills

Common administrative support skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Administrative Tasks, 8%
  • Data Entry, 6%
  • Payroll, 6%
  • Phone Calls, 6%
  • Patients, 5%
Common administrative associate skills
  • Administrative Tasks, 12%
  • Purchase Orders, 10%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Telephone Calls, 9%
  • Travel Arrangements, 9%
  • Patients, 8%

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