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The differences between purchasing administrative assistants and administrative associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a purchasing administrative assistant and an administrative associate. Additionally, a purchasing administrative assistant has an average salary of $37,889, which is higher than the $34,873 average annual salary of an administrative associate.
The top three skills for a purchasing administrative assistant include purchase orders, data entry and customer service. The most important skills for an administrative associate are administrative tasks, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Purchasing Administrative Assistant | Administrative Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $37,889 | $34,873 |
| Hourly rate | $18.22 | $16.77 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 48,872 | 54,499 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Purchasing Administrative Assistants will require a high school diploma or GED, but an associate degree or higher is preferred, as well as three or more years in a purchasing role. This career will require skills in communication and negotiation, as well as a proven history of good supply management and the ability to create and administer task priority lists based on the needs of the respective company. Paying an average salary of $42K per year, but ranging between $37K and $49K, this career choice will demand the provision of support to the purchasing process and department staff, processing documents and materials and responding to inquiries, as well as maintaining information and inventories about vendors and sources.
An administrative associate is responsible for performing various tasks such as handling and processing paperwork, attending meetings and preparing minutes, responding to inquiries and other forms of correspondence, keeping accurate records, updating databases, and monitoring the company's financial activities. They also communicate with various department personnel, ensuring coordination should any important matter would arise. Furthermore, as an administrative associate, they are in charge of procuring supplies, implementing company policies, and supporting any staff members if needed.
Purchasing administrative assistants and administrative associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Purchasing Administrative Assistant | Administrative Associate | |
| Average salary | $37,889 | $34,873 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $48,000 | Between $23,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Milpitas, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | Aspen Snowmass | Lord Abbett |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Finance |
There are a few differences between a purchasing administrative assistant and an administrative associate in terms of educational background:
| Purchasing Administrative Assistant | Administrative Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between purchasing administrative assistants' and administrative associates' demographics:
| Purchasing Administrative Assistant | Administrative Associate | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.3% Female, 91.7% | Male, 21.6% Female, 78.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |