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The differences between clerical/administrative assistants and administrative assistant/technicals can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a clerical/administrative assistant and an administrative assistant/technical. Additionally, an administrative assistant/technical has an average salary of $42,541, which is higher than the $30,983 average annual salary of a clerical/administrative assistant.
The top three skills for a clerical/administrative assistant include data entry, word processing and payroll. The most important skills for an administrative assistant/technical are patients, data entry, and powerpoint.
| Clerical/Administrative Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Yearly salary | $30,983 | $42,541 |
| Hourly rate | $14.90 | $20.45 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 56,261 | 122,180 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An administrative assistant, also known as a secretary or office clerk, is someone who carries out daily clerical and administrative tasks. Admin assistants do a variety of tasks such as answering phone calls, organizing files, maintaining contacts, schedule meetings and appointments, and many more. Their task can be extensive, depending on the needs of operations and higher management. They serve as a gatekeeper of the company, so strong verbal and written communication skills are a must. They should also exhibit great organizational skills and time management since they act as the resource of the company.
An administrative assistant/technical is primarily responsible for performing clerical and support tasks in a company, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. They must produce progress reports, process documentation, receive communication letters, manage schedules, and even greet visitors. There are also instances when an administrative assistant/technical has to answer calls and correspondence, respond to inquiries, address issues and concerns, and resolve them promptly and professionally. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain records of all transactions, coordinate with different departments, and adhere to the company's policies and regulations.
Clerical/administrative assistants and administrative assistant/technicals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clerical/Administrative Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Average salary | $30,983 | $42,541 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $38,000 | Between $31,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Olympia, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | University of California | Plante & Moran PLLC. |
| Best paying industry | Government | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a clerical/administrative assistant and an administrative assistant/technical in terms of educational background:
| Clerical/Administrative Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between clerical/administrative assistants' and administrative assistant/technicals' demographics:
| Clerical/Administrative Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.5% Female, 85.5% | Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |