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The differences between senior office assistants and office administrators 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 office assistant, becoming an office administrator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an office administrator has an average salary of $37,423, which is higher than the $34,082 average annual salary of a senior office assistant.
The top three skills for a senior office assistant include data entry, patients and office procedures. The most important skills for an office administrator are customer service, patients, and data entry.
| Senior Office Assistant | Office Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $34,082 | $37,423 |
| Hourly rate | $16.39 | $17.99 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 77,390 | 118,096 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Average age | 49 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A senior office assistant performs clerical support tasks to maintain the smooth flow of operations in an office. Their responsibilities typically include supervising junior assistants, conducting research and analysis, preparing and processing documents, answering calls and correspondence, arranging schedules and events, confirming appointments, and helping staff as needed. They must also maintain an active communication line with different departments and participate in various projects. Moreover, as a senior office assistant, they must lead and serve as a role model to junior office assistants, all while implementing and promoting the company's policies and regulations.
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.
Senior office assistants and office administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Office Assistant | Office Administrator | |
| Average salary | $34,082 | $37,423 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $44,000 | Between $28,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Brigham and Women's Hospital | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between a senior office assistant and an office administrator in terms of educational background:
| Senior Office Assistant | Office Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between senior office assistants' and office administrators' demographics:
| Senior Office Assistant | Office Administrator | |
| Average age | 49 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 17.3% Female, 82.7% | Male, 14.7% Female, 85.3% |
| 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, 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 | 10% | 6% |