Project assistant vs department assistant

The differences between project assistants and department 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 a department assistant. Additionally, a department assistant has an average salary of $40,698, 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 a department assistant are patients, customer service, and data entry.

Project assistant vs department assistant overview

	Project Assistant	Department Assistant
Yearly salary	$38,564	$40,698
Hourly rate	$18.54	$19.57
Growth rate	-8%	-8%
Number of jobs	59,664	88,268
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	50	50
Years of experience	2	2

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 a department assistant do?

A department assistant is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support and ensure the smooth operations of an entire department. Department assistants manage meeting calendars, book travel appointments, assist with company events, respond to clients' inquiries and requests through phone calls or personal visits, update customer records, organize electronic files, create business proposals, and monitor supplies. A department assistant must have excellent organizational and communication skills, as well as the ability to multitask under minimal supervision.

Project assistant vs department assistant salary

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

	Project Assistant	Department Assistant
Average salary	$38,564	$40,698
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $57,000	Between $24,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	Portland, OR	New York, NY
Highest paying state	Oregon	Rhode Island
Best paying company	AstraZeneca	Dorsey & Whitney
Best paying industry	Technology	-

Differences between project assistant and department assistant education

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

	Project Assistant	Department Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 65%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Western Carolina University	Western Carolina University

Project assistant vs department assistant demographics

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

	Project Assistant	Department Assistant
Average age	50	50
Gender ratio	Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1%	Male, 34.0% Female, 66.0%
Race ratio	Black 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, 16.2% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between project assistant and department 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.

Department assistant example responsibilities.

Manage and develop the daily clinical schedule for the in-patient rehabilitation staff taking into consideration Medicare guidelines and staffing ratios.
Team player/adaptable HIPPA compliant, CPR certify.
Maintain and process Kronos time and attendance records for department employees.
Perform CPR and assist in critical care room with traumas and arrests.
Clean windows, glass partitions, or mirrors, using soapy water or other cleaners.
Prepare and submit time to Kronos system biweekly and Lawson swift maker schedule for staff.

Project assistant vs department assistant skills

Common project assistant skills

Data Entry, 11%
PowerPoint, 8%
Customer Service, 8%
Project Management, 8%
Meeting Minutes, 4%
Data Collection, 4%

Common department assistant skills

Patients, 15%
Customer Service, 15%
Data Entry, 8%
Word Processing, 6%
Purchase Orders, 5%
Payroll, 4%

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Project Assistant
Project Assistant vs Department Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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