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Senior administrative assistant vs administrative associate

The differences between senior administrative assistants and administrative associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior administrative assistant, becoming an administrative associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior administrative assistant has an average salary of $46,790, which is higher than the $34,873 average annual salary of an administrative associate.

The top three skills for a senior administrative assistant include powerpoint, customer service and clerical support. The most important skills for an administrative associate are administrative tasks, purchase orders, and customer service.

Senior administrative assistant vs administrative associate overview

Senior Administrative AssistantAdministrative Associate
Yearly salary$46,790$34,873
Hourly rate$22.50$16.77
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs43,22654,499
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4950
Years of experience42

What does a senior administrative assistant do?

A senior administrative assistant's role is to accomplish clerical tasks to support senior managers. Such tasks involve preparing and processing documents, responding to inquiries and other forms of correspondence, arranging travel and appointments, attending meetings, and managing schedules. Furthermore, a senior administrative assistant must maintain a precise record system, serve as the main point of contact for office visitors, and prepare budget reports and other business plans. It is also essential to coordinate with various company personnel, ensuring accuracy in all activities and projects.

What does an administrative associate do?

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.

Senior administrative assistant vs administrative associate salary

Senior administrative assistants and administrative associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Administrative AssistantAdministrative Associate
Average salary$46,790$34,873
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $62,000Between $23,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyJPMorgan Chase & Co.Lord Abbett
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalFinance

Differences between senior administrative assistant and administrative associate education

There are a few differences between a senior administrative assistant and an administrative associate in terms of educational background:

Senior Administrative AssistantAdministrative Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University

Senior administrative assistant vs administrative associate demographics

Here are the differences between senior administrative assistants' and administrative associates' demographics:

Senior Administrative AssistantAdministrative Associate
Average age4950
Gender ratioMale, 8.0% Female, 92.0%Male, 21.6% Female, 78.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.2% Asian, 5.0% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%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 Percentage10%6%

Differences between senior administrative assistant and administrative associate duties and responsibilities

Senior administrative assistant example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage RFP and proposal processes for various projects.
  • Manage branches fiscal transactions including A/P, A/R, payroll, petty cash, safeguard reconciliation, and corporate reporting.
  • Coordinate calendars, schedule meetings and manage associated logistics including domestic/international travel.
  • Scheduled/Coordinate enterprise-wide WebEx conferences, facilitate team meetings, and manage executive schedules and itineraries.
  • Manage and coordinate complex internal and external meetings and/or events via videoconferencing, WebEx and teleconference calls.
  • Manage upper level calendar scheduling, arrange domestic and international travel, prepare PowerPoint presentations, correspondence and process expense reports.
  • Show more

Administrative associate example responsibilities.

  • Manage consultants' calendar, arrange travel, paid bills via QuickBooks software.
  • Support medical doctors, manage sensitive and confidential records pertaining to high risk patients with emphasis on accuracy.
  • Enter invoices in QuickBooks and P2P.
  • Fulfill medical record requests from patients, providers and insurance companies in a HIPAA compliant way.
  • Prepare PowerPoint presentations and address day to day general operations and office procedures.
  • Prepare PowerPoint & other digital media for presentations that are distributed to upper management.
  • Show more

Senior administrative assistant vs administrative associate skills

Common senior administrative assistant skills
  • PowerPoint, 12%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Clerical Support, 5%
  • Patients, 4%
  • Provides Administrative Support, 4%
  • SVP, 3%
Common administrative associate skills
  • Administrative Tasks, 12%
  • Purchase Orders, 10%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Telephone Calls, 9%
  • Travel Arrangements, 9%
  • Patients, 8%

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