What does an office technician do?
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 technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real office technician resumes:
- Manage operational FedEx relationship through order fulfillment, shipment tracking, and communication with parties involve in shipment transaction.
- Interact with SCO divisions, other agencies and campuses and the public, to resolve distribution problems concerning mail and payroll.
- Communicate payroll information with employees.
- Verify eligibility and coverage with Medicaid and Medicare.
- Certify to perform refraction to patients participating in clinical trials.
- Provide patients with surgical and procedural information and instructions as appropriate.
- Create presentation using PowerPoint to educate students about the department services.
- Lead DoD team that assist Pakistan in gaining military capabilities to conduct counter-terrorism operations against the Taliban.
- Manage operational FedEx relationship through order fulfillment, shipment tracking, and communication with parties involve in shipment transaction.
Office technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Office Technicians are proficient in Data Entry, Patients, and Office Equipment. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Office Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Entry, 16%
Maintained and updated patients medical records through data entry into hospital based computer system.
- Patients, 11%
Assisted physical/ occupational therapists by directing patients arm/hand exercises including light-weights, Thera-Puddy, Resistant Bands, and other tactile-hand-equipment.
- Office Equipment, 7%
Maintained and upgraded office equipment and computers maximizing technical resources to support business operations and deliver excellent customer service.
- Office Procedures, 7%
Analyzed and organized office procedures such as bookkeeping and clerical services.
- Word Processing, 5%
Use computer applications such as spreadsheets, word processing, calendar, e-mail, and database software in performing work assignments.
- Payroll, 4%
Communicated payroll information with employees.
Common skills that an office technician uses to do their job include "data entry," "patients," and "office equipment." You can find details on the most important office technician responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an office technician to have is customer-service skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "general office clerks often provide general information to company staff, customers, or the public." Office technicians often use customer-service skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "transmit information or documents to customers, using computer, mail, or facsimile machine. "
Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling office technician duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "general office clerks perform many clerical tasks that require attention to detail, such as preparing bills." According to an office technician resume, here's how office technicians can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "provided detailed instructions and guidance to the staff development clerical support staff. "
Organizational skills. office technicians are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to office technician responsibilities, because "general office clerks file and retrieve records." An office technician resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "assisted in fulfilling the office by utilizing organizational skills and knowledge of computer software and office equipment. "
The three companies that hire the most office technicians are:
- CDM Smith281 office technicians jobs
- OHM Corporation9 office technicians jobs
- WSB6 office technicians jobs
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Office technician vs. Support clerk
A support clerk is primarily in charge of performing administrative support tasks in an office, making the daily workflow easier. Their responsibilities typically include preparing and processing documentation, answering and forwarding calls, handling correspondence, disseminating and organizing files, and running errands as needed. They may also update databases, maintaining records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a support clerk, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff, coordinating to ensure efficient and smooth workplace operations.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between office technicians and support clerk. For instance, office technician responsibilities require skills such as "office procedures," "payroll," "schedule appointments," and "vital signs." Whereas a support clerk is skilled in "customer service," "medical terminology," "patient care," and "inventory control." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Support clerks tend to make the most money working in the government industry, where they earn an average salary of $35,567. In contrast, office technicians make the biggest average salary, $38,498, in the construction industry.The education levels that support clerks earn slightly differ from office technicians. In particular, support clerks are 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an office technician. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Office technician vs. Clerical aide
Clerical aides perform various office-related tasks for company executives like answering calls, sorting documents, taking down the minutes of their meetings, etc. They should have computer skills, be organized, and communicate with people inside and outside the company. These aides proofread standard and templated documents to produce the necessary documentation needed to present the activities held in their department. As they are working for officials in a company, there will be occasions where work hours can be irregular and events that need attendance.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that office technician responsibilities requires skills like "data entry," "patients," "schedule appointments," and "vital signs." But a clerical aide might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "computer data entry," "purchase orders," "inventory control," and "quality customer service."
Clerical aides earn a lower average salary than office technicians. But clerical aides earn the highest pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $30,265. Additionally, office technicians earn the highest salaries in the construction with average pay of $38,498 annually.In general, clerical aides achieve similar levels of education than office technicians. They're 1.5% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Office technician vs. Department secretary
A department secretary is responsible for providing administrative and clerical support to a specific department, ensuring smooth operations to maintain high-quality services to the customers and business partners. Department secretaries should have excellent knowledge of office management principles, especially on data processing procedures and customer service processes. They handle the scheduling of meetings and conferences, responding to customers' inquiries and concerns, directing visitors to the appropriate personnel and department, sorting files, and submitting business transactions and financial reports. A department secretary also recommends strategic procedures to generate more revenues and increase the company's profitability.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from office technician resumes include skills like "office procedures," "schedule appointments," "vital signs," and "office machines," whereas a department secretary is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "medical terminology," "patient care," and "secretarial support. "
Department secretaries earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $36,935. Office technicians earn the highest pay from the construction industry, with an average salary of $38,498.When it comes to education, department secretaries tend to earn similar degree levels compared to office technicians. In fact, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Office technician vs. Clerk typist
A clerk typist is responsible for data entry procedures and document transcriptions, alongside other clerical and administrative duties as required by the employer. Clerk typists create reports and presentation materials, transcribe audio meetings, write business drafts, and send documents to appropriate office personnel or clients. A clerk-typist must show excellent organizational and time-management skills, especially with handling various typing tasks under strict deadlines and minimal supervision. They also respond and take calls from clients and customers, assisting with their inquiries and concerns.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between office technicians and clerks typist, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an office technician might have more use for skills like "patients," "schedule appointments," "vital signs," and "provides administrative support." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of clerks typist require skills like "customer service," "input data," "scheduling appointments," and "purchase orders. "
In general, clerks typist earn the most working in the education industry, with an average salary of $32,312. The highest-paying industry for an office technician is the construction industry.In general, clerks typist hold similar degree levels compared to office technicians. Clerks typist are 1.3% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of office technician
Updated January 8, 2025











