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The differences between office managers and secretaries can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become an office manager, becoming a secretary takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an office manager has an average salary of $43,395, which is higher than the $36,442 average annual salary of a secretary.
The top three skills for an office manager include customer service, patients and financial statements. The most important skills for a secretary are customer service, telephone calls, and payroll.
| Office Manager | Secretary | |
| Yearly salary | $43,395 | $36,442 |
| Hourly rate | $20.86 | $17.52 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 53,712 | 69,315 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 2 |
Office managers oversee the entire workplace. They maintain office processes and services to ensure that everything is running well. They manage office supplies by managing inventory and procurement procedures. They also device filing systems, create needed and relevant office policies, and ensure that all the policies are being followed. As a way to make sure that the office is in top shape, office managers supervise most of the logistical aspects inside the office. They also provide support to both management teams and the rest of the employees. They often act as the bridge between the two and would sometimes even assist in the training of new employees.
Secretaries are employees who are responsible for many of the administrative needs of the office. They are usually assigned to executives or to a specific department. They manage schedules and appointments, often handling the calendar in the office. They are also responsible for keeping files organized, whether physical or digital copies. During office meetings, secretaries are in charge of documenting the minutes of the meeting and highlighting the action steps that need to be taken. They may also be assigned to check on concerned departments who need to present deliverables in the next office meeting.
Office managers and secretaries have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Office Manager | Secretary | |
| Average salary | $43,395 | $36,442 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $62,000 | Between $26,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | California |
| Best paying company | Moody's | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Government |
There are a few differences between an office manager and a secretary in terms of educational background:
| Office Manager | Secretary | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 44% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between office managers' and secretaries' demographics:
| Office Manager | Secretary | |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 13.5% Female, 86.5% | Male, 10.1% Female, 89.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 5.2% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 3.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |