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The differences between business assistants and office receptionists 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 office receptionist. Additionally, a business assistant has an average salary of $42,247, which is higher than the $33,554 average annual salary of an office receptionist.
The top three skills for a business assistant include customer service, patients and data entry. The most important skills for an office receptionist are patients, customer service, and phone calls.
| Business Assistant | Office Receptionist | |
| Yearly salary | $42,247 | $33,554 |
| Hourly rate | $20.31 | $16.13 |
| Growth rate | -8% | - |
| Number of jobs | 98,348 | 80,143 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 50 | 42 |
| 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 office receptionist, or administrative assistant, performs various administrative tasks for an organization. These tasks may include answering phone calls, providing the public and customers with information, and warmly welcoming, greeting, and directing visitors or guests accordingly. Additionally, an office receptionist is responsible for maintaining security by issuing visitor badges, monitoring logbooks, and following procedures. Administrative assistants are also responsible for preparing and processing travel vouchers and other documents. Some employers prefer someone with a college or bachelor's degree, telephone skills, and excellent communication skills.
Business assistants and office receptionists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Business Assistant | Office Receptionist | |
| Average salary | $42,247 | $33,554 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $60,000 | Between $27,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Minneapolis, MN |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Whitney Museum of American Art | Dairy Farmers of America |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a business assistant and an office receptionist in terms of educational background:
| Business Assistant | Office Receptionist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between business assistants' and office receptionists' demographics:
| Business Assistant | Office Receptionist | |
| Average age | 50 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.1% Female, 71.9% | Male, 9.5% Female, 90.5% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 55.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |