Office assistant/file clerk vs office receptionist

The differences between office assistant/file clerks and office receptionists 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 assistant/file clerk and an office receptionist. Additionally, an office receptionist has an average salary of $33,554, which is higher than the $30,645 average annual salary of an office assistant/file clerk.

The top three skills for an office assistant/file clerk include data entry, office equipment and scheduling appointments. The most important skills for an office receptionist are patients, customer service, and phone calls.

Office assistant/file clerk vs office receptionist overview

	Office Assistant/File Clerk	Office Receptionist
Yearly salary	$30,645	$33,554
Hourly rate	$14.73	$16.13
Growth rate	-5%	-
Number of jobs	120,542	80,143
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	47	42
Years of experience	2	2

Office assistant/file clerk vs office receptionist salary

Office assistant/file clerks and office receptionists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Office Assistant/File Clerk	Office Receptionist
Average salary	$30,645	$33,554
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $37,000	Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	-	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	-	Alaska
Best paying company	-	Dairy Farmers of America
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between office assistant/file clerk and office receptionist education

There are a few differences between an office assistant/file clerk and an office receptionist in terms of educational background:

	Office Assistant/File Clerk	Office Receptionist
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	University of Pennsylvania

Office assistant/file clerk vs office receptionist demographics

Here are the differences between office assistant/file clerks' and office receptionists' demographics:

	Office Assistant/File Clerk	Office Receptionist
Average age	47	42
Gender ratio	Male, 25.2% Female, 74.8%	Male, 9.5% Female, 90.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 7.4% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.6% Asian, 6.4% White, 55.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between office assistant/file clerk and office receptionist duties and responsibilities

Office assistant/file clerk example responsibilities.

Manage front office check-in, insurance verification and certifications from doctors.
Create project materials and PowerPoint presentations for meetings.
Create and edit charts, insert pictures and graphics into program documents and produce PowerPoint presentations.
Restock office supplies, deliver offices' mail to the post office, and run any other necessary errands.
Maintain confidentiality and standards according to HIPAA regulations.
Handle medical malpractice and litigation files while maintaining confidentiality and HIPPA guidelines.

Office receptionist example responsibilities.

Verify insurance information and manage medical records while ensuring confidentiality according to HIPAA requirements.
Answer phones, make copies, Microsoft, PowerPoint, scheduling, greet and interact with clients, filing and mailing.
Complete and audit payroll for accuracy.
Process payroll and monthly/quarterly sales tax liabilities.
Stock exam rooms, sterilize instruments and occasionally assist physician with patients.
Provide high-quality customer-service to patients by treating them respectfully and t with discretion.

Office assistant/file clerk vs office receptionist skills

Common office assistant/file clerk skills

Data Entry, 33%
Office Equipment, 12%
Scheduling Appointments, 6%
Front Desk, 5%
Patient Charts, 5%
Office Machines, 4%

Common office receptionist skills

Patients, 20%
Customer Service, 15%
Phone Calls, 12%
Data Entry, 9%
Front Desk, 6%
Appointment Scheduling, 5%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Office Assistant/File Clerk
Office Assistant/File Clerk vs Office Receptionist

Updated January 8, 2025

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