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The differences between business assistants and accounts payable/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 a business assistant and an accounts payable/administrative assistant. Additionally, a business assistant has an average salary of $42,247, which is higher than the $41,382 average annual salary of an accounts payable/administrative assistant.
The top three skills for a business assistant include customer service, patients and data entry. The most important skills for an accounts payable/administrative assistant are purchase orders, data entry, and vendor invoices.
| Business Assistant | Accounts Payable/Administrative Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $42,247 | $41,382 |
| Hourly rate | $20.31 | $19.90 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 98,348 | 56,780 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A business assistant is responsible for supporting various office functions, performing administrative and clerical duties to ensure efficient and smooth business operations, and provide high-quality services to the customers and business partners. Business assistants handle data processing procedures, writing business transaction reports, and coordinating with suppliers and third-party vendors for any requests made by the company. They welcome visitors, verify their appointments, and direct them to the appropriate personnel or department for their business concerns. A business assistant also schedules a meeting, assist in accounting and human resources tasks, and support the executives on corporate decisions.
An accounts payable/administrative assistant works alongside the department head. This position focuses on the administrative side of a budgeting department. They are responsible for organizing a company's financial records, which include all documentation of financial transactions, such as invoices and receipts. They also manage all paperwork needed by their department.
Business assistants and accounts payable/administrative assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Assistant | Accounts Payable/Administrative Assistant | |
| Average salary | $42,247 | $41,382 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $60,000 | Between $30,000 And $56,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | East Providence, RI |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Whitney Museum of American Art | Gypsum Management and Supply |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Construction |
There are a few differences between a business assistant and an accounts payable/administrative assistant in terms of educational background:
| Business Assistant | Accounts Payable/Administrative Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between business assistants' and accounts payable/administrative assistants' demographics:
| Business Assistant | Accounts Payable/Administrative Assistant | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.1% Female, 71.9% | Male, 6.6% Female, 93.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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 | 6% | 6% |