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The differences between senior secretaries 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 secretary, becoming an administrative associate takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an administrative associate has an average salary of $34,873, which is higher than the $33,120 average annual salary of a senior secretary.
The top three skills for a senior secretary include patients, routine correspondence and data entry. The most important skills for an administrative associate are administrative tasks, purchase orders, and customer service.
| Senior Secretary | Administrative Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $33,120 | $34,873 |
| Hourly rate | $15.92 | $16.77 |
| Growth rate | -8% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 37,284 | 54,499 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 49 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A Senior Secretary is responsible for maintaining office records, receiving and directing telephone calls, and writing various reports for managers. They also schedule appointments and meetings for supervisors and assist in the process of new hires.
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 secretaries and administrative associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Secretary | Administrative Associate | |
| Average salary | $33,120 | $34,873 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $40,000 | Between $23,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | New York |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Lord Abbett |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Finance |
There are a few differences between a senior secretary and an administrative associate in terms of educational background:
| Senior Secretary | Administrative Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between senior secretaries' and administrative associates' demographics:
| Senior Secretary | Administrative Associate | |
| Average age | 49 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 5.9% Female, 94.1% | 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% |