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Project coordinator vs project assistant

The differences between project coordinators and project assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a project coordinator, becoming a project assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a project coordinator has an average salary of $50,375, which is higher than the $38,564 average annual salary of a project assistant.

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

Project coordinator vs project assistant overview

Project CoordinatorProject Assistant
Yearly salary$50,375$38,564
Hourly rate$24.22$18.54
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs38,74359,664
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4750
Years of experience62

What does a project coordinator do?

Project coordinators act as the liaising body between different departments involved in a specific project. They are members of the group assigned to work together for special projects or undertakings that will benefit the organization. Project coordinators join meetings of the special committee, from planning to evaluation. They take notes and jot down action plans. They ensure that the committee members assigned to do specific tasks are doing so. They also guarantee project success by ensuring that the people involved in the project are working well together.

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.

Project coordinator vs project assistant salary

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

Project CoordinatorProject Assistant
Average salary$50,375$38,564
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $75,000Between $25,000 And $57,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYPortland, OR
Highest paying stateNew YorkOregon
Best paying companyMetaAstraZeneca
Best paying industryFinanceTechnology

Differences between project coordinator and project assistant education

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

Project CoordinatorProject Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - BakersfieldWestern Carolina University

Project coordinator vs project assistant demographics

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

Project CoordinatorProject Assistant
Average age4750
Gender ratioMale, 37.7% Female, 62.3%Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 5.3% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 Percentage8%6%

Differences between project coordinator and project assistant duties and responsibilities

Project coordinator example responsibilities.

  • Create and lead Smartsheet training for team members.
  • Manage timely delivery of regular deliverables to the CIO.
  • Project manages all aspects of office redesign to include; new furniture, layout, logistics, and telephony requirements.
  • Manage FTP site for all projects and coordinate with all consultants and clients to help upload and download auto cad drawings.
  • Manage Minnesota Medicaid billing and patient eligibility from admission and renewals.
  • Manage the PMO Intranet site and develop related standard operating procedure documents.
  • Show more

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

Project coordinator vs project assistant skills

Common project coordinator skills
  • Project Management, 15%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 7%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • Purchase Orders, 5%
  • Project Coordination, 5%
Common project assistant skills
  • Data Entry, 11%
  • PowerPoint, 8%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Meeting Minutes, 4%
  • Data Collection, 4%

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