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The differences between executive assistants and senior executive assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an executive assistant and a senior executive assistant. Additionally, a senior executive assistant has an average salary of $66,419, which is higher than the $50,539 average annual salary of an executive assistant.
The top three skills for an executive assistant include powerpoint, customer service and phone calls. The most important skills for a senior executive assistant are powerpoint, customer service, and work ethic.
| Executive Assistant | Senior Executive Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $50,539 | $66,419 |
| Hourly rate | $24.30 | $31.93 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 93,116 | 70,299 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Executive assistants are employees who are assigned to work under the supervision of company executives. They manage the activities of the executives they are assigned to by manning the executive's calendar, scheduling appointments, setting meetings, ensuring that the executives are familiar with their schedule for the day, and taking note of any deliverable that may be needed. They are also responsible for taking care of any document or paperwork that the executive needs, as well as preparing presentation materials or briefers for meetings. Executive assistants are also usually exposed to actual company operations to further understand how the business works and to be of better help to the executive.
A senior executive assistant is responsible for handling the administrative tasks of the company on behalf of the executive management, ensuring smooth business operations to support clients' needs and customers' demands. Senior executive assistants manage executive appointments, respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, sort documents, monitor business transactions, and coordinate with other employees to distribute internal communications. They also assist in scheduling press releases, media inquiries, and updating social media platforms. A senior executive assistant must be highly communicative and organizational to perform duties under strict deadlines and minimal supervision.
Executive assistants and senior executive assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Executive Assistant | Senior Executive Assistant | |
| Average salary | $50,539 | $66,419 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $71,000 | Between $43,000 And $101,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Meta | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an executive assistant and a senior executive assistant in terms of educational background:
| Executive Assistant | Senior Executive Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between executive assistants' and senior executive assistants' demographics:
| Executive Assistant | Senior Executive Assistant | |
| Average age | 49 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 13.1% Female, 86.9% | Male, 10.3% Female, 89.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |