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The differences between payroll assistants and accounting assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a payroll assistant, becoming an accounting assistant takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a payroll assistant has an average salary of $45,023, which is higher than the $39,569 average annual salary of an accounting assistant.
The top three skills for a payroll assistant include data entry, payroll system and payroll data. The most important skills for an accounting assistant are data entry, customer service, and reconciliations.
| Payroll Assistant | Accounting Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $45,023 | $39,569 |
| Hourly rate | $21.65 | $19.02 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 7,063 | 63,945 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 48 | 51 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A payroll assistant is primarily in charge of performing support tasks to help payroll managers maintain smooth workflow operations. Their duties entail maintaining databases, entering relevant data into systems, coordinating with different departments, handling tax forms and other paperwork, establishing schedules, processing deductions, and preparing regular reports. They may also manage calls and other forms of correspondence, perform research and assessments, keep records, and run errands as necessary. Additionally, a payroll assistant must maintain an open communication line with fellow staff and managers to solve potential or existing issues.
An accounting assistant is responsible for supporting the daily operations of the business' accounting department, from reviewing financial transactions to the submission of financial reports. Accounting assistants' duties include performing data entry and clerical tasks, maintaining a safe record of account statements, updating and analyzing transactions, verifying the accuracy of financial records, and managing customers and vendors' inquiries as immediate as possible. An accounting assistant must have a broad knowledge of the accounting principles and processes, as well as excellent communication and time-management skills, especially on meeting strict deadlines and doing complex tasks as needed.
Payroll assistants and accounting assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Payroll Assistant | Accounting Assistant | |
| Average salary | $45,023 | $39,569 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $65,000 | Between $30,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Riverhead, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New York | New York |
| Best paying company | Sidley Austin | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Finance |
There are a few differences between a payroll assistant and an accounting assistant in terms of educational background:
| Payroll Assistant | Accounting Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Business | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between payroll assistants' and accounting assistants' demographics:
| Payroll Assistant | Accounting Assistant | |
| Average age | 48 | 51 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 16.0% Female, 84.0% | Male, 20.1% Female, 79.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 6.1% White, 58.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 7% |