Assistant department head vs department assistant

The differences between assistant department heads and department assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an assistant department head, becoming a department assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an assistant department head has an average salary of $65,309, which is higher than the $40,698 average annual salary of a department assistant.

The top three skills for an assistant department head include ladders, sales floor and customer service. The most important skills for a department assistant are patients, customer service, and data entry.

Assistant department head vs department assistant overview

	Assistant Department Head	Department Assistant
Yearly salary	$65,309	$40,698
Hourly rate	$31.40	$19.57
Growth rate	-	-8%
Number of jobs	41,690	88,268
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	43	50
Years of experience	6	2

What does an assistant department head do?

An assistant department head is responsible for monitoring the operations of the department, together with the department head. Assistant department heads' duties include managing clients' inquiries and complaints, developing strategic solutions to improve clients' satisfaction, and identifying business opportunities to increase revenues and the business' profitability. They will also work on monitoring the staff's performance and addressing their concerns, creating sales reports, maintaining budget goals, and organizing training. An assistant department head must have excellent leadership and communication skills to help in achieving the department's objectives.

What does a department assistant do?

A department assistant is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support and ensure the smooth operations of an entire department. Department assistants manage meeting calendars, book travel appointments, assist with company events, respond to clients' inquiries and requests through phone calls or personal visits, update customer records, organize electronic files, create business proposals, and monitor supplies. A department assistant must have excellent organizational and communication skills, as well as the ability to multitask under minimal supervision.

Assistant department head vs department assistant salary

Assistant department heads and department assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Assistant Department Head	Department Assistant
Average salary	$65,309	$40,698
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $106,000	Between $24,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	Centereach, NY	New York, NY
Highest paying state	New York	Rhode Island
Best paying company	Princeton University	Dorsey & Whitney
Best paying industry	Energy	-

Differences between assistant department head and department assistant education

There are a few differences between an assistant department head and a department assistant in terms of educational background:

	Assistant Department Head	Department Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	Western Carolina University

Assistant department head vs department assistant demographics

Here are the differences between assistant department heads' and department assistants' demographics:

	Assistant Department Head	Department Assistant
Average age	43	50
Gender ratio	Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1%	Male, 34.0% Female, 66.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	6%

Differences between assistant department head and department assistant duties and responsibilities

Assistant department head example responsibilities.

Generate and implement new rules and regulations for the disciplinary department which lead to streamlining the process for separating challenge sailors.
Manage a high volume of patient information from authorizing diagnostic procedures and scheduling patients.
Perform all duties require while working in a retail environment such as POS cash handling, customer service and sales.
Stoop, climb ladders, and lift heavy loads during set-up for events.
Administer Microsoft PowerPoint training lectures and meeting/ briefings require by OSHA and NAVOSH.
Collaborate with patients, Tricare, and providers DOD and civilian coordinating specialty care referrals.

Department assistant example responsibilities.

Manage and develop the daily clinical schedule for the in-patient rehabilitation staff taking into consideration Medicare guidelines and staffing ratios.
Team player/adaptable HIPPA compliant, CPR certify.
Maintain and process Kronos time and attendance records for department employees.
Perform CPR and assist in critical care room with traumas and arrests.
Clean windows, glass partitions, or mirrors, using soapy water or other cleaners.
Prepare and submit time to Kronos system biweekly and Lawson swift maker schedule for staff.

Assistant department head vs department assistant skills

Common assistant department head skills

Ladders, 29%
Sales Floor, 28%
Customer Service, 11%
Curriculum Development, 3%
Professional Development, 3%
Loss Prevention, 3%

Common department assistant skills

Patients, 15%
Customer Service, 15%
Data Entry, 8%
Word Processing, 6%
Purchase Orders, 5%
Payroll, 4%

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Assistant Department Head
Assistant Department Head vs Department Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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