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The differences between secretaries and office administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a secretary and an office administrator. Additionally, an office administrator has an average salary of $37,423, which is higher than the $36,442 average annual salary of a secretary.
The top three skills for a secretary include customer service, telephone calls and payroll. The most important skills for an office administrator are customer service, patients, and data entry.
| Secretary | Office Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $36,442 | $37,423 |
| Hourly rate | $17.52 | $17.99 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 69,315 | 118,096 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 50 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Secretaries are employees who are responsible for many of the administrative needs of the office. They are usually assigned to executives or to a specific department. They manage schedules and appointments, often handling the calendar in the office. They are also responsible for keeping files organized, whether physical or digital copies. During office meetings, secretaries are in charge of documenting the minutes of the meeting and highlighting the action steps that need to be taken. They may also be assigned to check on concerned departments who need to present deliverables in the next office meeting.
Office administrators are employees who ensure that the office is running in tip-top shape. They manage the administrative needs of the office. They answer calls directed to the official company phone, manage the inventory of supplies, take charge or purchase requisitions for needed supplies, and ensure the office equipment and fixtures are taken care of. Office administrators also manage correspondences, official memoranda, and other official company documents. They also keep track of files and records to ensure that these are properly organized. At times, office administrators also take charge of welcoming guests and accompanying them to their respective meetings.
Secretaries and office administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Secretary | Office Administrator | |
| Average salary | $36,442 | $37,423 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $51,000 | Between $28,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Government | Government |
There are a few differences between a secretary and an office administrator in terms of educational background:
| Secretary | Office Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between secretaries' and office administrators' demographics:
| Secretary | Office Administrator | |
| Average age | 50 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 10.1% Female, 89.9% | Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 3.9% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 7.9% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |