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Department coordinator vs department secretary

The differences between department coordinators and department secretaries can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a department coordinator, becoming a department secretary takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a department coordinator has an average salary of $44,673, which is higher than the $35,473 average annual salary of a department secretary.

The top three skills for a department coordinator include customer service, patients and patient care. The most important skills for a department secretary are patients, customer service, and data entry.

Department coordinator vs department secretary overview

Department CoordinatorDepartment Secretary
Yearly salary$44,673$35,473
Hourly rate$21.48$17.05
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs67,42380,303
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age4750
Years of experience62

What does a department coordinator do?

A department coordinator is responsible for supporting business operations and management tasks to ensure that the company meets its daily operational goals and objectives. Department coordinators coordinate the project progress of each department and maintain the adequate allocation of funds and resources to perform operations timely and efficiently. They also negotiate contracts with suppliers and vendors for materials that are essential for company products and processes. A department coordinator must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing reports, attending meetings, and handling clients' inquiries and concerns.

What does a department secretary do?

A department secretary is responsible for providing administrative and clerical support to a specific department, ensuring smooth operations to maintain high-quality services to the customers and business partners. Department secretaries should have excellent knowledge of office management principles, especially on data processing procedures and customer service processes. They handle the scheduling of meetings and conferences, responding to customers' inquiries and concerns, directing visitors to the appropriate personnel and department, sorting files, and submitting business transactions and financial reports. A department secretary also recommends strategic procedures to generate more revenues and increase the company's profitability.

Department coordinator vs department secretary salary

Department coordinators and department secretaries have different pay scales, as shown below.

Department CoordinatorDepartment Secretary
Average salary$44,673$35,473
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $61,000Between $26,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYOakland, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyGLGBrigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industryFinanceGovernment

Differences between department coordinator and department secretary education

There are a few differences between a department coordinator and a department secretary in terms of educational background:

Department CoordinatorDepartment Secretary
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - BakersfieldStanford University

Department coordinator vs department secretary demographics

Here are the differences between department coordinators' and department secretaries' demographics:

Department CoordinatorDepartment Secretary
Average age4750
Gender ratioMale, 30.3% Female, 69.7%Male, 7.0% Female, 93.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 5.3% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between department coordinator and department secretary duties and responsibilities

Department coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage RFP process; act as key liaison for corporate clients and corporate sales director.
  • Manage hotel database, Delphi, including assigning ballroom for events, issuing contracts and arranging menus.
  • Manage end-to-end request for proposal (RFP) process; from client presentation creation to demonstration via on-site or WebEx.
  • Implement financial monitoring systems and monitor cash management including controlling production expenditures, and managing payroll and petty cash.
  • Administer, organize, and file patient paperwork including HIPAA forms.
  • Facilitate bi-rotational meetings on various healthcare topics which includes HIPAA and culture of safety.
  • Show more

Department secretary example responsibilities.

  • Lead DoD team that assist Pakistan in gaining military capabilities to conduct counter-terrorism operations against the Taliban.
  • Volunteer for ISO auditor duties to ensure ISO procedures are followed for certification.
  • Perform payroll functions, including maintaining timekeeping information and processing and submitting payroll.
  • Prepare materials for monthly board of directors meetings including PowerPoint presentations, agendas and minutes.
  • Complete all payroll documentation, enter all payroll documentation into computer program, and submit to payroll department.
  • Create PowerPoint presentations used for business development, organize files and develop spreadsheets, fax reports and scan documents.
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Department coordinator vs department secretary skills

Common department coordinator skills
  • Customer Service, 20%
  • Patients, 20%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Data Entry, 6%
  • Payroll, 5%
  • PowerPoint, 5%
Common department secretary skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Data Entry, 7%
  • Medical Terminology, 7%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Word Processing, 4%

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