Office aide vs office technician

The differences between office aides and office technicians 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 aide and an office technician. Additionally, an office technician has an average salary of $34,956, which is higher than the $29,255 average annual salary of an office aide.

The top three skills for an office aide include data entry, phone calls and telephone calls. The most important skills for an office technician are data entry, patients, and office equipment.

Office aide vs office technician overview

	Office Aide	Office Technician
Yearly salary	$29,255	$34,956
Hourly rate	$14.06	$16.81
Growth rate	-5%	-5%
Number of jobs	76,712	82,512
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	2	2

What does an office aide do?

Also called an office assistant, an office aide is someone whose responsibility focuses on secretarial and administrative tasks in health practices, schools, businesses, or any other institution. Office aides help with logistical and clerical needs like copying files, curating schedules, and answering phones. They manage and organize files, receive and direct visitors, create presentations, and answer emails. The skills they need include computer and email use, filing documents, answering multiline phone systems, and typing.

What does an office technician do?

An Office Technician handles installation and repair tasks by using power tools and manual equipment safely and effectively. Besides installing, maintaining, and repairing central office equipment, an office technician also installs, tests, and labels cable lines. They deactivate, activate, and maintain office equipment. Other duties performed by office technicians include removing non-functional and unused office equipment, managing equipment stations and telecommunication rooms cabling, and maintaining inspection, repair, maintenance, and installation documents. Also, these professionals work as per environmental, safety, and health policies.

Office aide vs office technician salary

Office aides and office technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Office Aide	Office Technician
Average salary	$29,255	$34,956
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $37,000	Between $25,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City	Olympia, WA	Anchorage, AK
Highest paying state	Washington	Hawaii
Best paying company	Community Solutions	Motorola Solutions
Best paying industry	Health Care	Construction

Differences between office aide and office technician education

There are a few differences between an office aide and an office technician in terms of educational background:

	Office Aide	Office Technician
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 45%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Northwestern University	Western Carolina University

Office aide vs office technician demographics

Here are the differences between office aides' and office technicians' demographics:

	Office Aide	Office Technician
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 24.2% Female, 75.8%	Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 23.5% Asian, 8.3% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%	Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 8.5% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between office aide and office technician duties and responsibilities

Office aide example responsibilities.

Manage operational FedEx relationship through order fulfillment, shipment tracking, and communication with parties involve in shipment transaction.
Handle bulk mailings for annual donations, alumni & target donors.
Elaborate letters, PowerPoint presentations.
Create PowerPoint presentations used for school development.
Administer executive responsibilities to assist the office manager with administrative task and operating QuickBooks.
Ensure sensitive information pertaining to veterans are kept secure.

Office technician example responsibilities.

Manage operational FedEx relationship through order fulfillment, shipment tracking, and communication with parties involve in shipment transaction.
Interact with SCO divisions, other agencies and campuses and the public, to resolve distribution problems concerning mail and payroll.
Communicate payroll information with employees.
Verify eligibility and coverage with Medicaid and Medicare.
Certify to perform refraction to patients participating in clinical trials.
Provide patients with surgical and procedural information and instructions as appropriate.

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Office aide vs office technician skills

Common office aide skills

Data Entry, 16%
Phone Calls, 15%
Telephone Calls, 8%
Customer Service, 6%
Front Desk, 5%
Database Systems, 5%

Common office technician skills

Data Entry, 16%
Patients, 11%
Office Equipment, 7%
Office Procedures, 7%
Word Processing, 5%
Payroll, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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