Assistant operator vs administrative support assistant

The differences between assistant operators and administrative support 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 assistant operator and an administrative support assistant. Additionally, an assistant operator has an average salary of $37,607, which is higher than the $36,341 average annual salary of an administrative support assistant.

The top three skills for an assistant operator include customer service, ladders and safety procedures. The most important skills for an administrative support assistant are customer service, provides administrative support, and data entry.

Assistant operator vs administrative support assistant overview

	Assistant Operator	Administrative Support Assistant
Yearly salary	$37,607	$36,341
Hourly rate	$18.08	$17.47
Growth rate	-8%	-8%
Number of jobs	88,093	118,512
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age	50	50
Years of experience	2	2

What does an assistant operator do?

The duties of an assistant operator depend on one's industry of employment or the kind of machine that they are operating. Typically, their tasks may revolve around coordinating with operators and other staff, handling and managing documents, understanding blueprints, and adhering to the directives of operators and supervisors. Furthermore, as an assistant operator, it is essential to perform support tasks, such as preparing tools and conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the efficiency of machines and maintain a safe work environment.

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.

Assistant operator vs administrative support assistant salary

Assistant operators and administrative support assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Assistant Operator	Administrative Support Assistant
Average salary	$37,607	$36,341
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $50,000	Between $29,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City	San Jose, CA	SeaTac, WA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	Hawaii
Best paying company	Massachusetts General Hospital	Brookhaven National Laboratory
Best paying industry	Energy	Government

Differences between assistant operator and administrative support assistant education

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

	Assistant Operator	Administrative Support Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Western Carolina University	Western Carolina University

Assistant operator vs administrative support assistant demographics

Here are the differences between assistant operators' and administrative support assistants' demographics:

	Assistant Operator	Administrative Support Assistant
Average age	50	50
Gender ratio	Male, 76.8% Female, 23.2%	Male, 16.6% Female, 83.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black 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%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between assistant operator and administrative support assistant duties and responsibilities

Assistant operator example responsibilities.

Manage proper removal and allocation for full yarn spindles.
Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Maintain current MSHA training requirements.
Coordinate special movement of ISO tanks.
Certify in MSHA hard-rock mine safety.
Maintain spinning/winding machines by putting idle spindles and cones back into production.

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.

Assistant operator vs administrative support assistant skills

Common assistant operator skills

Customer Service, 28%
Ladders, 11%
Safety Procedures, 9%
Safety Committee, 6%
Quality Checks, 6%
PPE, 5%

Common administrative support assistant skills

Customer Service, 15%
Provides Administrative Support, 6%
Data Entry, 6%
Patients, 5%
Travel Arrangements, 4%
Phone Calls, 4%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Assistant Operator
Assistant Operator vs Administrative Support Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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