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The differences between project associates and project assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a project associate has an average salary of $56,523, which is higher than the $38,564 average annual salary of a project assistant.
The top three skills for a project associate include project management, data collection and powerpoint. The most important skills for a project assistant are data entry, powerpoint, and customer service.
| Project Associate | Project Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $56,523 | $38,564 |
| Hourly rate | $27.17 | $18.54 |
| Growth rate | 21% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 107,546 | 59,664 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A project associate (PA) is an individual who ensures that the activities of a project are running smoothly and properly implemented. Project associates are required to provide administrative coordination support to assigned projects and maintain project pending lists and meeting agendas. They must review and process invoices from consultants, subcontractors, and vendors to ensure that they are according to the project's requirements. In collaboration with the senior project officer, project associates should also assist in tracking and documenting project deliverables.
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.
Project associates and project assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Project Associate | Project Assistant | |
| Average salary | $56,523 | $38,564 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $25,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | Pennsylvania | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Meta | AstraZeneca |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Technology |
There are a few differences between a project associate and a project assistant in terms of educational background:
| Project Associate | Project Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between project associates' and project assistants' demographics:
| Project Associate | Project Assistant | |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5% | Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 6% |