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The differences between office support specialists 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 support specialist and an office administrator. Additionally, an office administrator has an average salary of $37,423, which is higher than the $36,549 average annual salary of an office support specialist.
The top three skills for an office support specialist include customer service, data entry and phone calls. The most important skills for an office administrator are customer service, patients, and data entry.
| Office Support Specialist | Office Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $36,549 | $37,423 |
| Hourly rate | $17.57 | $17.99 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 130,301 | 118,096 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An office support specialist is in charge of performing clerical tasks to help offices maintain a smooth workflow. Among their responsibilities include preparing and processing documents, answering calls and correspondence, disseminating and organizing files, monitoring the inventory of office supplies, and processing procurement requests should there be any. They may also assist staff with projects and programs, greet visitors, and coordinate with different company departments. Furthermore, an office support specialist must enforce the company's policies and regulations.
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 support specialists and office administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Office Support Specialist | Office Administrator | |
| Average salary | $36,549 | $37,423 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $45,000 | Between $28,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Billerica, MA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Anne Arundel County Public Schools | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Government |
There are a few differences between an office support specialist and an office administrator in terms of educational background:
| Office Support Specialist | Office Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 45% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between office support specialists' and office administrators' demographics:
| Office Support Specialist | Office Administrator | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.8% Female, 82.2% | Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 6.8% White, 59.0% 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% |