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The differences between receptionist/human resources assistants and office 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 receptionist/human resources assistant and an office assistant. Additionally, a receptionist/human resources assistant has an average salary of $35,765, which is higher than the $31,517 average annual salary of an office assistant.
The top three skills for a receptionist/human resources assistant include greeting visitors, data entry and customer service. The most important skills for an office assistant are data entry, patients, and customer service.
| Receptionist/Human Resources Assistant | Office Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $35,765 | $31,517 |
| Hourly rate | $17.19 | $15.15 |
| Growth rate | - | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 63,704 | 103,293 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Receptionists/human resources assistants perform a wide range of administrative duties. Chiefly, they are required to answer employee questions, process mail, create and distribute documents, giving customer service to employees, and serving as a liaison with vendors and administrators. This is a position that demands proficiency in written and verbal communication, as well as word processing, calendaring, and spreadsheet skills. Also, a positive attitude and flexibility is a definite must.
Office assistants perform various tasks to ensure that the business runs organized and efficient. An office assistant must possess excellent communication and multi-tasking skills to handle essential duties such as scheduling meetings, monitoring office supplies, storing documents and necessary paperwork, handling customer inquiries and appointments, coordinating in company events, and accomplishing other clerical tasks and administrative support. Office assistants are also required to communicate any observation that would possibly make an impact on the company's performance.
Receptionist/human resources assistants and office assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Receptionist/Human Resources Assistant | Office Assistant | |
| Average salary | $35,765 | $31,517 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $43,000 | Between $24,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | - | Vermont |
| Best paying company | - | Analysis Group |
| Best paying industry | - | Government |
There are a few differences between a receptionist/human resources assistant and an office assistant in terms of educational background:
| Receptionist/Human Resources Assistant | Office Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 41% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between receptionist/human resources assistants' and office assistants' demographics:
| Receptionist/Human Resources Assistant | Office Assistant | |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 5.8% Female, 94.2% | Male, 17.3% Female, 82.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 21.4% Asian, 8.1% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 21.0% Asian, 8.3% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 15% | 6% |