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Senior staff assistant vs assistant

The differences between senior staff assistants and assistants 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 staff assistant, becoming an assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a senior staff assistant has an average salary of $57,821, which is higher than the $37,363 average annual salary of an assistant.

The top three skills for a senior staff assistant include data entry, patient care and provides administrative support. The most important skills for an assistant are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Senior staff assistant vs assistant overview

Senior Staff AssistantAssistant
Yearly salary$57,821$37,363
Hourly rate$27.80$17.96
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs97,922557,900
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age4950
Years of experience42

What does a senior staff assistant do?

A senior staff assistant provides help with administrative tasks. Generally, they schedule appointments and answer calls and emails. They are also responsible for organizing paperwork. They may have to schedule meetings, arrange travel accommodations, and act as a liaison with human resources.

What does an assistant do?

An assistant intern is responsible for facilitating administrative and clerical tasks as assigned by the management. Assistant interns' duties include keeping records of meetings, receiving calls and handling customer inquiries, assisting on writing reports and data entry processing, cooperating and providing support for business events, and adhering to company policies and regulatory procedures. Successful assistant interns must have excellent time-management, multi-tasking, and communication skills. They must be a team player and fast-learner to handle various tasks in the corporate industry.

Senior staff assistant vs assistant salary

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

Senior Staff AssistantAssistant
Average salary$57,821$37,363
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $87,000Between $16,000 And $82,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCBoston, MA
Highest paying stateConnecticutMassachusetts
Best paying companyGoogleLatham & Watkins
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between senior staff assistant and assistant education

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

Senior Staff AssistantAssistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University

Senior staff assistant vs assistant demographics

Here are the differences between senior staff assistants' and assistants' demographics:

Senior Staff AssistantAssistant
Average age4950
Gender ratioMale, 19.8% Female, 80.2%Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3%
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, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage10%6%

Differences between senior staff assistant and assistant duties and responsibilities

Senior staff assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage and coordinate complex internal and external meetings and/or events via videoconferencing, WebEx and teleconference calls.
  • Prepare bi-weekly timekeeping for payroll processing and maintain PTO tracking.
  • Serve as HIPAA liaison for office.
  • Ensure compliance of HIPAA regulations and confidentiality practices are being follow.
  • Provide technical oversight and AV/Teleconference support for meetings.
  • Operate audio visual equipment and PowerPoint presentations at meetings.
  • Show more

Assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage circulations, including educational textbooks and DVDS, video technology and supplies.
  • Manage branches providing information technology support, logistics, training and operational support.
  • Manage company's twitter account and communicate with multiple physical therapy providers around the country
  • Optimize productivity in prioritizing and managing special projects, PowerPoint presentations for classes, and proctore exams for undergraduate classes.
  • Assist in jewelry design and assembly, manage company Facebook page, participate in wholesale buying, and manage retail inventory
  • Manage and update company Facebook page with daily updates, finding/sharing relevant and interesting information, and encouraging fan engagement.
  • Show more

Senior staff assistant vs assistant skills

Common senior staff assistant skills
  • Data Entry, 14%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Provides Administrative Support, 10%
  • Payroll, 9%
  • Meeting Minutes, 6%
  • Financial Statements, 5%
Common assistant skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Sales Floor, 5%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 3%

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