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The differences between office administrators and office secretaries can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an office administrator and an office secretary. Additionally, an office administrator has an average salary of $37,423, which is higher than the $33,118 average annual salary of an office secretary.
The top three skills for an office administrator include customer service, patients and data entry. The most important skills for an office secretary are data entry, phone calls, and telephone calls.
| Office Administrator | Office Secretary | |
| Yearly salary | $37,423 | $33,118 |
| Hourly rate | $17.99 | $15.92 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 118,096 | 87,771 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Office administrators are employees who ensure that the office is running in tip-top shape. They manage the administrative needs of the office. They answer calls directed to the official company phone, manage the inventory of supplies, take charge or purchase requisitions for needed supplies, and ensure the office equipment and fixtures are taken care of. Office administrators also manage correspondences, official memoranda, and other official company documents. They also keep track of files and records to ensure that these are properly organized. At times, office administrators also take charge of welcoming guests and accompanying them to their respective meetings.
An office secretary is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to ensure the smooth flow of operations and prevent delays with project deliverables. Office secretaries also welcome guests, respond to their inquiries and concerns, and direct them to the appropriate department or personnel for their appointments. They schedule meetings, sort documents, handle incoming and outgoing mail, as well as manage inventories for the adequacy of office supplies. An office secretary must have excellent time-management and multitasking skills to conduct tasks within a strict deadline and minimal supervision.
Office administrators and office secretaries have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Office Administrator | Office Secretary | |
| Average salary | $37,423 | $33,118 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $25,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | Guidehouse |
| Best paying industry | Government | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between an office administrator and an office secretary in terms of educational background:
| Office Administrator | Office Secretary | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between office administrators' and office secretaries' demographics:
| Office Administrator | Office Secretary | |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3% | Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 7.9% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |