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The differences between office clerical assistants and office administrators 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 clerical assistant and an office administrator. Additionally, an office administrator has an average salary of $37,423, which is higher than the $28,373 average annual salary of an office clerical assistant.
The top three skills for an office clerical assistant include data entry, customer service and patients. The most important skills for an office administrator are customer service, patients, and data entry.
| Office Clerical Assistant | Office Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $28,373 | $37,423 |
| Hourly rate | $13.64 | $17.99 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 83,010 | 118,096 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Office clerical assistants are professionals who are responsible for performing a variety of clerical tasks within an organization's office. These assistants must provide office assistance functions such as responding to emails, filing papers, and preparing schedules while handling customers at the front desk. They are required to use automated word processing equipment to produce correspondence, forms, or reports. Clerical assistants must also answer high profile telephone calls and forward the messages to the appropriate person.
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.
Office clerical assistants and office administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Office Clerical Assistant | Office Administrator | |
| Average salary | $28,373 | $37,423 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $35,000 | Between $28,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between an office clerical assistant and an office administrator in terms of educational background:
| Office Clerical Assistant | Office Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between office clerical assistants' and office administrators' demographics:
| Office Clerical Assistant | Office Administrator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.5% Female, 81.5% | Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 7.4% White, 56.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |