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The differences between senior administrative specialists 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 specialist, becoming an administrative associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior administrative specialist has an average salary of $43,864, which is higher than the $34,873 average annual salary of an administrative associate.
The top three skills for a senior administrative specialist include powerpoint, logistics and travel arrangements. The most important skills for an administrative associate are administrative tasks, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Senior Administrative Specialist | Administrative Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $43,864 | $34,873 |
| Hourly rate | $21.09 | $16.77 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 57,049 | 54,499 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 49 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A senior administrative specialist is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to support business operations and ensuring the efficient and timely submission of outputs and business reports. Senior administrative specialists assist the executive management in tracking appointments and travels, coordinating with the client for scheduled meetings, negotiating contracts with suppliers and third-party vendors, and responding to clients' inquiries and concerns or leading them to the correct personnel for their business needs. A senior administrative specialist must be highly communicative and organizational to do tasks within deadlines and under minimal supervision.
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 specialists and administrative associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Administrative Specialist | Administrative Associate | |
| Average salary | $43,864 | $34,873 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $68,000 | Between $23,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Beverly Hills, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New York |
| Best paying company | BNY Mellon | Lord Abbett |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a senior administrative specialist and an administrative associate in terms of educational background:
| Senior Administrative Specialist | Administrative Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between senior administrative specialists' and administrative associates' demographics:
| Senior Administrative Specialist | Administrative Associate | |
| Average age | 49 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.4% Female, 80.6% | Male, 21.6% Female, 78.4% |
| Race ratio | Black 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 Percentage | 10% | 6% |