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Personnel assistant vs human resources technician

The differences between personnel assistants and human resources technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a personnel assistant and a human resources technician. Additionally, a human resources technician has an average salary of $40,933, which is higher than the $38,830 average annual salary of a personnel assistant.

The top three skills for a personnel assistant include human resources, data entry and office equipment. The most important skills for a human resources technician are human resources, customer service, and data entry.

Personnel assistant vs human resources technician overview

Personnel AssistantHuman Resources Technician
Yearly salary$38,830$40,933
Hourly rate$18.67$19.68
Growth rate--
Number of jobs6,68439,846
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age4343
Years of experience22

What does a personnel assistant do?

Personnel assistants are professionals who perform administrative duties while assisting the human resources director to maintain and keep the records and confidential files of employees working in an organization. These assistants must communicate with all personnel about their compensation policies while ensuring that the company policies and procedures are consistently applied. They are required to coordinate with supervisors to create job descriptions and develop recruiting advertisements. Personnel assistants must also purchase office supplies while maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of their office area.

What does a human resources technician do?

A human resources technician is primarily responsible for performing clerical support tasks in a human resources office. Their duty revolves around preparing and processing documentation, managing schedules, reviewing requirements and applications, participating in planning and executing HR projects and programs, and gathering information as necessary. They must also update and maintain a database, making sure everything is running smoothly. Should there be any issues or inquiries, it is crucial to address and resolve them right away. Furthermore, a human resources technician may participate in the hiring processes, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

Personnel assistant vs human resources technician salary

Personnel assistants and human resources technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Personnel AssistantHuman Resources Technician
Average salary$38,830$40,933
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $51,000Between $29,000 And $57,000
Highest paying CityMonterey, CAPennsauken, NJ
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyPaul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & GarrisonPayPal
Best paying industryNon ProfitsGovernment

Differences between personnel assistant and human resources technician education

There are a few differences between a personnel assistant and a human resources technician in terms of educational background:

Personnel AssistantHuman Resources Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 53%Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Personnel assistant vs human resources technician demographics

Here are the differences between personnel assistants' and human resources technicians' demographics:

Personnel AssistantHuman Resources Technician
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 18.5% Female, 81.5%Male, 23.0% Female, 77.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 9.1% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 9.0% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage15%15%

Differences between personnel assistant and human resources technician duties and responsibilities

Personnel assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage new employee orientation training, including e-verify.
  • Maintain employee's timekeeping and personnel records.
  • Coordinate staff reports, monthly activity, insurance updates and EEO activity.
  • Record data for each employee, including absences, coaching and timekeeping.
  • Maintain and handle confidential information such as grievances, EEO relate matters, etc.
  • Create and maintain a database for the sick line, FMLA tracking, payroll document tracking, and benefit adjustment tracking.
  • Show more

Human resources technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage KRONOS time reporting leave tracking and relate policy for a department, division or section.
  • Integrate efforts on actions and programs where joint OPM functional effort are necessary to accomplish recruitment and enhance organizational effectiveness.
  • Develop and implement a training module on payroll and FMLA for new managers.
  • Conduct KRONOS, digital database and digital recorder training on an as need basis.
  • Enter all benefit data into PeopleSoft application.
  • Generate initial paperwork for FMLA and short/long term disability.
  • Show more

Personnel assistant vs human resources technician skills

Common personnel assistant skills
  • Human Resources, 16%
  • Data Entry, 13%
  • Office Equipment, 7%
  • CAC, 5%
  • Personnel Actions, 4%
  • Background Checks, 4%
Common human resources technician skills
  • Human Resources, 15%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Data Entry, 6%
  • HRIS, 6%
  • Payroll System, 6%
  • Personnel Actions, 6%

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