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Assistant director of administration vs secretary

The differences between assistant directors of administration and secretaries can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an assistant director of administration and a secretary. Additionally, an assistant director of administration has an average salary of $77,131, which is higher than the $36,442 average annual salary of a secretary.

The top three skills for an assistant director of administration include oversight, human resources and powerpoint. The most important skills for a secretary are customer service, telephone calls, and payroll.

Assistant director of administration vs secretary overview

Assistant Director Of AdministrationSecretary
Yearly salary$77,131$36,442
Hourly rate$37.08$17.52
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs35,00669,315
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age5050
Years of experience22

What does an assistant director of administration do?

An assistant director of administration works together with the director to oversee and coordinate daily business operations. Being an assistant director, they are responsible for supervising departments, gathering and analyzing reports and data, performing research and analyses, establishing timelines and guidelines, and participating in implementing goals. They must also monitor the workflow and resolve issues should any arise. Moreover, they encourage staff to reach goals and serve as a role model, all while enforcing and promoting the company's policies and regulations.

What does a secretary do?

Secretaries are employees who are responsible for many of the administrative needs of the office. They are usually assigned to executives or to a specific department. They manage schedules and appointments, often handling the calendar in the office. They are also responsible for keeping files organized, whether physical or digital copies. During office meetings, secretaries are in charge of documenting the minutes of the meeting and highlighting the action steps that need to be taken. They may also be assigned to check on concerned departments who need to present deliverables in the next office meeting.

Assistant director of administration vs secretary salary

Assistant directors of administration and secretaries have different pay scales, as shown below.

Assistant Director Of AdministrationSecretary
Average salary$77,131$36,442
Salary rangeBetween $54,000 And $109,000Between $26,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companyHarvard UniversityLewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith
Best paying industryFinanceGovernment

Differences between assistant director of administration and secretary education

There are a few differences between an assistant director of administration and a secretary in terms of educational background:

Assistant Director Of AdministrationSecretary
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Assistant director of administration vs secretary demographics

Here are the differences between assistant directors of administration' and secretaries' demographics:

Assistant Director Of AdministrationSecretary
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 31.5% Female, 68.5%Male, 10.1% Female, 89.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 3.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 3.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between assistant director of administration and secretary duties and responsibilities

Assistant director of administration example responsibilities.

  • Manage fiscal functions, including budget oversight and responses to regulatory agencies.
  • Manage domestic and international travel arrangements including transportation, lodging, and logistics for individuals and groups utilizing travel management systems.
  • Tabulate accounts receivable/payable; coordinate scheduling and payroll.
  • Enter direct deposits, calculate benefits withholding, payroll deductions and garnishments.
  • Provide oversight to facility department heads and supervisors on policies/procedures, and department budgets.
  • Manage domestic and international travel arrangements including transportation, lodging, and logistics for individuals and groups utilizing travel management systems.
  • Show more

Secretary example responsibilities.

  • Manage and oversee all STO relate actions task to OSD impacting future and current operations in STO.
  • Manage financial bookkeeping efficiently for the company using QuickBooks.
  • Lead DoD team that assist Pakistan in gaining military capabilities to conduct counter-terrorism operations against the Taliban.
  • Present information orally, using Microsoft PowerPoint to military officials on various office and personnel administrative functions.
  • Track progress monitoring for corrective reading and corrective math.
  • Copy and distribute medical records according to guidelines set by HIPPA
  • Show more

Assistant director of administration vs secretary skills

Common assistant director of administration skills
  • Oversight, 11%
  • Human Resources, 9%
  • PowerPoint, 8%
  • Office Equipment, 8%
  • Payroll, 7%
  • Patient Care, 5%
Common secretary skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Telephone Calls, 11%
  • Payroll, 9%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 9%
  • Word Processing, 5%
  • Office Equipment, 5%

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