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Project assistant vs administrative project assistant

The differences between project assistants and administrative project assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a project assistant and an administrative project assistant. Additionally, an administrative project assistant has an average salary of $41,668, which is higher than the $38,564 average annual salary of a project assistant.

The top three skills for a project assistant include data entry, powerpoint and customer service. The most important skills for an administrative project assistant are customer service, data entry, and powerpoint.

Project assistant vs administrative project assistant overview

Project AssistantAdministrative Project Assistant
Yearly salary$38,564$41,668
Hourly rate$18.54$20.03
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs59,66458,448
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age5050
Years of experience22

What does a project assistant do?

A project assistant's role mainly revolves around assisting a project manager. The responsibilities may vary upon the industry or organization. Still, most of them will be administrative tasks such as preparing reports and documentation, responding to calls and other forms of correspondence, and coordinating with various offices and personnel. Furthermore, a Project Assistant must also ensure the department's efficient workflow, proper utilization of budget, review documentation and schedules, attend meetings, and maintain an information database.

What does an administrative project assistant do?

An administrative project assistant is responsible for supporting the project management operations according to business requirements and client specifications. Administrative project assistants perform administrative duties, such as conducting market research, writing progress reports, updating tracking systems, sorting project documents, and scheduling meetings. They also maintain accurate records of financial transactions, managing the stock inventories, and escalating concerns that would affect the output deliveries. An administrative project assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on data management processes and performing duties under minimal supervision and strict deadlines.

Project assistant vs administrative project assistant salary

Project assistants and administrative project assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Project AssistantAdministrative Project Assistant
Average salary$38,564$41,668
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $57,000Between $31,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CityPortland, ORWashington, DC
Highest paying stateOregonCalifornia
Best paying companyAstraZenecaJacobs Engineering Group
Best paying industryTechnologyConstruction

Differences between project assistant and administrative project assistant education

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

Project AssistantAdministrative Project Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University

Project assistant vs administrative project assistant demographics

Here are the differences between project assistants' and administrative project assistants' demographics:

Project AssistantAdministrative Project Assistant
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 32.9% Female, 67.1%Male, 10.3% Female, 89.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage6%6%

Differences between project assistant and administrative project assistant duties and responsibilities

Project assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage SharePoint document repository and ensure that project managers comply with PMO policies.
  • Manage facilities by coordinating relocation of departments by using the facilities management database and VISIO.
  • Compose and balance departmental grants, tabulate and process payroll distribution, manage and maintain office routine during supervisor's absence.
  • Manage QA budget for assign projects by identifying actual and potential budget over-runs and under-runs, develop and monitor project/program plans.
  • Create a useful project tracking tool call JIRA.
  • Communicate with donors via phone, email, and twitter.
  • Show more

Administrative project assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage quality assurance checks for FDA and internal audits which result in no documentation/information error and successful completion of the audits.
  • Create and maintain project-related SharePoint sites and pages, including updating graphics, uploading resource documents and adding new users.
  • Prepare presentation materials for meetings, utilizing Microsoft PowerPoint.
  • Develop creative PowerPoint presentations for company to be present for conferences/conventions.
  • Eliminate potential errors by establishing an alternate payroll template and process.
  • Coordinate certified payroll, credit card reconciliation, and travel expense reimbursements.
  • Show more

Project assistant vs administrative project assistant skills

Common project assistant skills
  • Data Entry, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 8%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Meeting Minutes, 4%
  • Data Collection, 4%
Common administrative project assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Data Entry, 10%
  • PowerPoint, 8%
  • Project Management, 5%
  • Meeting Minutes, 4%
  • Office Equipment, 4%

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