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Front office coordinator vs administrative assistant

The differences between front office coordinators and administrative assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a front office coordinator and an administrative assistant. Additionally, an administrative assistant has an average salary of $34,945, which is higher than the $32,844 average annual salary of a front office coordinator.

The top three skills for a front office coordinator include patients, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for an administrative assistant are customer service, data entry, and powerpoint.

Front office coordinator vs administrative assistant overview

Front Office CoordinatorAdministrative Assistant
Yearly salary$32,844$34,945
Hourly rate$15.79$16.80
Growth rate-5%-8%
Number of jobs131,81065,769
Job satisfaction-4.14
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4750
Years of experience22

What does a front office coordinator do?

A front office coordinator is responsible for assisting clients with their inquiries and concerns and directing them to the appropriate department and personnel to immediately address their needs. Front office coordinators schedule appointments, verify visitors' identities by checking their credentials for security purposes, processing service payments, updating customers' data and visitation log on the database, and escalating high-level complaints. A front office coordinator also performs administrative and clerical tasks as needed, requiring them to have excellent time-management and organizational skills.

What does an administrative assistant do?

Administrative assistants, or admin assistants, do general clerical and administrative activities. Their duties involve organizing and maintaining files and records, preparing documents, scheduling meetings and appointments, and providing general support in the office. Administrative assistants handle incoming and outgoing official correspondences, take minutes of important meetings and manage calls to the main office number. They also assist executives in providing structure to their day by managing their schedule, drafting e-mails, and other activities that executives may need assistance in. Administrative assistants should have the following skills: organizing, business writing, decision-making, and communication.

Front office coordinator vs administrative assistant salary

Front office coordinators and administrative assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Front Office CoordinatorAdministrative Assistant
Average salary$32,844$34,945
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $42,000Between $26,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyWestfield State University
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between front office coordinator and administrative assistant education

There are a few differences between a front office coordinator and an administrative assistant in terms of educational background:

Front Office CoordinatorAdministrative Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 38%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaWestern Carolina University

Front office coordinator vs administrative assistant demographics

Here are the differences between front office coordinators' and administrative assistants' demographics:

Front Office CoordinatorAdministrative Assistant
Average age4750
Gender ratioMale, 9.0% Female, 91.0%Male, 12.7% Female, 87.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 24.1% Asian, 6.7% White, 53.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between front office coordinator and administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

Front office coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Manage medical records and other patient information within HIPPA guidelines.
  • Manage facility procedures relate to insurance and billing and solve patients' queries regarding their insurance renewal and expiry.
  • Work in Kronos to enter miss punches or correct time for employees when payroll is due.
  • Apply proper ICD-9 and CPT coding to patient invoices and submit claims to insurance companies for proper reimbursement.
  • Monitor physician documentation in EHR versus fee ticket and verify that the correct ICD9 and CPT codes are being used.
  • Maintain confidentiality of patient privacy in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
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Administrative assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage time and attendance using Kronos software for entire department.
  • Participate in national projects, manage new customer conversions to MCI from other carriers.
  • Manage FEDEX delivery requirements ensuring compliance with company policy.
  • Manage and update social media outlets including Facebook and LinkedIn.
  • Manage company finances using QuickBooks software, including monitoring the operating budget and collecting on unpaid invoices.
  • Manage and develop the daily clinical schedule for the in-patient rehabilitation staff taking into consideration Medicare guidelines and staffing ratios.
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Front office coordinator vs administrative assistant skills

Common front office coordinator skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • Front Desk, 4%
  • Insurance Verification, 4%
  • Patient Charts, 3%
Common administrative assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Data Entry, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 6%
  • Travel Arrangements, 5%
  • Database Management, 5%
  • Word Processing, 5%

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