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The differences between office associates 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 associate and an office technician. Additionally, an office technician has an average salary of $34,956, which is higher than the $31,276 average annual salary of an office associate.
The top three skills for an office associate include customer service, patients and data entry. The most important skills for an office technician are data entry, patients, and office equipment.
| Office Associate | Office Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $31,276 | $34,956 |
| Hourly rate | $15.04 | $16.81 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 80,214 | 82,512 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Office associates have varied duties and responsibilities within an organization. They are responsible for the cash management operation, customer service functions, and administrative services. Other responsibilities include organizing and maintaining files and documents, administering all bookkeeping activities, and managing the entire office. Office associates also oversee the overall human resource activities within an organization, such as handling employment forms and health insurance administration. The skills required for this position include communication skills, organizational skills, and active listening skills.
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 associates and office technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Office Associate | Office Technician | |
| Average salary | $31,276 | $34,956 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $25,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anchorage, AK | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Persistent Systems | Motorola Solutions |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Construction |
There are a few differences between an office associate and an office technician in terms of educational background:
| Office Associate | Office Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between office associates' and office technicians' demographics:
| Office Associate | Office Technician | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 24.9% Female, 75.1% | Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 8.1% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | 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% |