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Principal secretary vs receptionist secretary

The differences between principal secretaries and receptionist secretaries can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a principal secretary and a receptionist secretary. Additionally, a principal secretary has an average salary of $33,699, which is higher than the $29,343 average annual salary of a receptionist secretary.

The top three skills for a principal secretary include purchase orders, schedule appointments and office equipment. The most important skills for a receptionist secretary are patients, data entry, and phone calls.

Principal secretary vs receptionist secretary overview

Principal SecretaryReceptionist Secretary
Yearly salary$33,699$29,343
Hourly rate$16.20$14.11
Growth rate-8%-
Number of jobs46,20761,892
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%High School Diploma, 37%
Average age5042
Years of experience22

Principal secretary vs receptionist secretary salary

Principal secretaries and receptionist secretaries have different pay scales, as shown below.

Principal SecretaryReceptionist Secretary
Average salary$33,699$29,343
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $41,000Between $24,000 And $35,000
Highest paying CityMilpitas, CALake Oswego, OR
Highest paying stateHawaiiWashington
Best paying companyEdina Public SchoolsIllinois Institute of Technology
Best paying industryManufacturingGovernment

Differences between principal secretary and receptionist secretary education

There are a few differences between a principal secretary and a receptionist secretary in terms of educational background:

Principal SecretaryReceptionist Secretary
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%High School Diploma, 37%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina University-

Principal secretary vs receptionist secretary demographics

Here are the differences between principal secretaries' and receptionist secretaries' demographics:

Principal SecretaryReceptionist Secretary
Average age5042
Gender ratioMale, 5.0% Female, 95.0%Male, 5.6% Female, 94.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 6.3% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between principal secretary and receptionist secretary duties and responsibilities

Principal secretary example responsibilities.

  • Manage high volume of requests and correspondence from executives and colleagues, pharmaceutical representatives, patients and outside physicians.
  • Maintain compliance with HIPPA law.
  • Work closely with Medicare and Medicaid.
  • Maintain confidentiality laws of HIPAA and OSHA.
  • Create spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations for faculty meetings on behalf of the principal.
  • Prepare charts, vital sight, injections, EKG, phlebotomy, fill prescriptions and hospital admitting.
    • Show more

Receptionist secretary example responsibilities.

  • Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
  • Maintain confidential information/ HIPPA compliant.
  • Prepare PowerPoint presentations and distribute meeting materials.
  • Maintain confidentiality and release health records information following HIPPA guidelines.
  • Develop and present PowerPoint presentations to visiting dignitaries from higher headquarters.
  • Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
    • Show more

Principal secretary vs receptionist secretary skills

Common principal secretary skills
  • Purchase Orders, 16%
  • Schedule Appointments, 13%
  • Office Equipment, 8%
  • Financial Reports, 6%
  • Word Processing, 6%
  • Administrative Tasks, 5%
Common receptionist secretary skills
  • Patients, 15%
  • Data Entry, 12%
  • Phone Calls, 11%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Telephone Calls, 8%
  • Appointment Scheduling, 7%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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