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Executive secretary, administrative assistant vs clerical/administrative assistant

The differences between executive secretaries, administrative assistant and clerical/administrative assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an executive secretary, administrative assistant, becoming a clerical/administrative assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an executive secretary, administrative assistant has an average salary of $55,653, which is higher than the $30,983 average annual salary of a clerical/administrative assistant.

The top three skills for an executive secretary, administrative assistant include payroll, financial statements and word processing. The most important skills for a clerical/administrative assistant are data entry, word processing, and payroll.

Executive secretary, administrative assistant vs clerical/administrative assistant overview

Executive Secretary, Administrative AssistantClerical/Administrative Assistant
Yearly salary$55,653$30,983
Hourly rate$26.76$14.90
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs109,41656,261
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age4950
Years of experience42

Executive secretary, administrative assistant vs clerical/administrative assistant salary

Executive secretaries, administrative assistant and clerical/administrative assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Executive Secretary, Administrative AssistantClerical/Administrative Assistant
Average salary$55,653$30,983
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $79,000Between $24,000 And $38,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSeattle, WA
Highest paying stateConnecticutWashington
Best paying companyErnst & YoungUniversity of California
Best paying industryManufacturingGovernment

Differences between executive secretary, administrative assistant and clerical/administrative assistant education

There are a few differences between an executive secretary, administrative assistant and a clerical/administrative assistant in terms of educational background:

Executive Secretary, Administrative AssistantClerical/Administrative Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University

Executive secretary, administrative assistant vs clerical/administrative assistant demographics

Here are the differences between executive secretaries, administrative assistant' and clerical/administrative assistants' demographics:

Executive Secretary, Administrative AssistantClerical/Administrative Assistant
Average age4950
Gender ratioMale, 7.6% Female, 92.4%Male, 14.5% Female, 85.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage10%6%

Differences between executive secretary, administrative assistant and clerical/administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

Executive secretary, administrative assistant example responsibilities.

  • Orchestrate special events and reservations; manage customer relations and provide exemplary service to all customers.
  • Disseminate pertinent data to executives and staff, prepare bi-weekly meeting minutes and PowerPoint presentations for monthly meetings.
  • General office tasks include handling mail, payroll, filing, maintaining portfolio inventory, contact with family members, etc.
  • Submit electronic payroll, via PeopleSoft application.
  • Prepare PowerPoint presentations, article submissions and portions of grant applications.
  • Implement a solution for staffing restructure that reduce overall salary expense while maintaining productivity for a rehabilitation inpatient nursing unit.
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Clerical/administrative assistant example responsibilities.

  • Work with QuickBooks to manage store invoices and accounts.
  • Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA.
  • Support medical doctors, manage sensitive and confidential records pertaining to high risk patients with emphasis on accuracy.
  • Check patients in and out, EMR, collect co-pays, answer phones, and take patients to exam rooms.
  • Assist with preparing and printing of exhibits, spreadsheets and PowerPoint slides as needed.
  • Maintain payroll and expense information.
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Executive secretary, administrative assistant vs clerical/administrative assistant skills

Common executive secretary, administrative assistant skills
  • Payroll, 9%
  • Financial Statements, 8%
  • Word Processing, 8%
  • Conference Calls, 8%
  • Purchase Orders, 4%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
Common clerical/administrative assistant skills
  • Data Entry, 31%
  • Word Processing, 18%
  • Payroll, 14%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 4%
  • Clerical Support, 3%

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