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Operations specialist vs administrative assistant

The differences between operations specialists and administrative assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an operations specialist has an average salary of $54,752, which is higher than the $34,945 average annual salary of an administrative assistant.

The top three skills for an operations specialist include customer service, logistics and basic math. The most important skills for an administrative assistant are customer service, data entry, and powerpoint.

Operations specialist vs administrative assistant overview

Operations SpecialistAdministrative Assistant
Yearly salary$54,752$34,945
Hourly rate$26.32$16.80
Growth rate10%-8%
Number of jobs109,18165,769
Job satisfaction44.14
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age4450
Years of experience-2

What does an operations specialist do?

An operations specialist is responsible for optimizing the business' daily operations, ensuring smooth process flow to provide the best services to clients. Operations specialists' duties include analyzing business procedures, identifying opportunities for business improvement, tracking the department's metrics and activities, providing assistance to colleagues, suggesting strategies for operations efficiency, and managing customer's inquiries and complaints. An operations specialist must be an excellent team player and detail-oriented, as well as proven time-management and decision-making skills to meet clients' needs and support the business' objectives.

What does an administrative assistant do?

Administrative assistants, or admin assistants, do general clerical and administrative activities. Their duties involve organizing and maintaining files and records, preparing documents, scheduling meetings and appointments, and providing general support in the office. Administrative assistants handle incoming and outgoing official correspondences, take minutes of important meetings and manage calls to the main office number. They also assist executives in providing structure to their day by managing their schedule, drafting e-mails, and other activities that executives may need assistance in. Administrative assistants should have the following skills: organizing, business writing, decision-making, and communication.

Operations specialist vs administrative assistant salary

Operations specialists and administrative assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Operations SpecialistAdministrative Assistant
Average salary$54,752$34,945
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $85,000Between $26,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandCalifornia
Best paying companyCoatue ManagementWestfield State University
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between operations specialist and administrative assistant education

There are a few differences between an operations specialist and an administrative assistant in terms of educational background:

Operations SpecialistAdministrative Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University

Operations specialist vs administrative assistant demographics

Here are the differences between operations specialists' and administrative assistants' demographics:

Operations SpecialistAdministrative Assistant
Average age4450
Gender ratioMale, 50.6% Female, 49.4%Male, 12.7% Female, 87.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage11%6%

Differences between operations specialist and administrative assistant duties and responsibilities

Operations specialist example responsibilities.

  • Develop and implement VBA scripts to automate tasks in financial reporting.
  • Manage all international A/R functions, reporting, sales, expense analysis and marketing campaigns as well as all royalties.
  • Manage and process 100 FDA electronic and paper submissions including safety reports, new investigator reports, amendments, and protocols.
  • Demonstrate ability to manage and organize clinical setting for patients and families.
  • Personalize and manage a customer SQL network database to consolidate all incoming orders from different marketplaces.
  • Manage a variety of operational tasks for moderately complex securities transactions that require knowledge of vary systems and processes.
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Administrative assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage time and attendance using Kronos software for entire department.
  • Participate in national projects, manage new customer conversions to MCI from other carriers.
  • Manage FEDEX delivery requirements ensuring compliance with company policy.
  • Manage and update social media outlets including Facebook and LinkedIn.
  • Manage company finances using QuickBooks software, including monitoring the operating budget and collecting on unpaid invoices.
  • Manage and develop the daily clinical schedule for the in-patient rehabilitation staff taking into consideration Medicare guidelines and staffing ratios.
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Operations specialist vs administrative assistant skills

Common operations specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Logistics, 4%
  • Basic Math, 4%
  • PowerPoint, 4%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 4%
  • Operational Procedures, 4%
Common administrative assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Data Entry, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 6%
  • Travel Arrangements, 5%
  • Database Management, 5%
  • Word Processing, 5%

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