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The differences between clerks/assistant 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 clerk/assistant and an administrative assistant/technical. Additionally, an administrative assistant/technical has an average salary of $42,541, which is higher than the $32,674 average annual salary of a clerk/assistant.
The top three skills for a clerk/assistant include customer support, telephone calls and word processing. The most important skills for an administrative assistant/technical are patients, data entry, and powerpoint.
| Clerk/Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Yearly salary | $32,674 | $42,541 |
| Hourly rate | $15.71 | $20.45 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 114,718 | 122,180 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A clerk is someone who performs administrative tasks assigned by a manager or by other employees. The job includes responsibilities like dealing with correspondence, data maintenance through manual or computer systems, filing, and related general office duties. It involves typing letters, reports, and any other business-related documents. Clerks sort and respond to emails or forward them to other employees. They need to develop skills in typing, administrative duties, customer service and relations, and attention to detail.
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.
Clerks/assistant and administrative assistant/technicals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clerk/Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Average salary | $32,674 | $42,541 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $41,000 | Between $31,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | Long Beach, CA | Olympia, WA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | United States Courts | Plante & Moran PLLC. |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a clerk/assistant and an administrative assistant/technical in terms of educational background:
| Clerk/Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between clerks/assistant' and administrative assistant/technicals' demographics:
| Clerk/Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% | Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 8.3% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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% |