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The differences between department 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 department assistant and an administrative assistant/technical. Additionally, an administrative assistant/technical has an average salary of $42,541, which is higher than the $40,698 average annual salary of a department assistant.
The top three skills for a department assistant include patients, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for an administrative assistant/technical are patients, data entry, and powerpoint.
| Department Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Yearly salary | $40,698 | $42,541 |
| Hourly rate | $19.57 | $20.45 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 88,268 | 122,180 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A department assistant is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support and ensure the smooth operations of an entire department. Department assistants manage meeting calendars, book travel appointments, assist with company events, respond to clients' inquiries and requests through phone calls or personal visits, update customer records, organize electronic files, create business proposals, and monitor supplies. A department assistant must have excellent organizational and communication skills, as well as the ability to multitask under minimal supervision.
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.
Department assistants and administrative assistant/technicals have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Department Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Average salary | $40,698 | $42,541 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $67,000 | Between $31,000 And $58,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Olympia, WA |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Dorsey & Whitney | Plante & Moran PLLC. |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a department assistant and an administrative assistant/technical in terms of educational background:
| Department Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between department assistants' and administrative assistant/technicals' demographics:
| Department Assistant | Administrative Assistant/Technical | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.0% Female, 66.0% | Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |