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What does a service secretary do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
What does a service secretary do

A service secretary performs administrative and clerical duties, such as maintaining databases and filing systems, coordinating meetings, and preparing documents. The core skills that a service secretary should possess to perform his/her or her responsibilities include strong interpersonal skills, knowledge of general office procedures, and the ability to operate office equipment. Service secretaries are employed in industries like business, law, and education. Having extensive experience in secretarial and clerical work is an advantage to qualify for the service secretary position.

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Service secretary responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real service secretary resumes:

  • Lead DoD team that assist Pakistan in gaining military capabilities to conduct counter-terrorism operations against the Taliban.
  • Assist payroll administrator with completing bi-weekly payroll.
  • Compose and edit PowerPoint presentations for physicians.
  • Develop several PowerPoint presentations utilize for training purposes.
  • Developed/Implemented/Monitore annual budgets and payroll system for both departments.
  • Demonstrate professional integrity and tactful handling of confidential and protect health information according to HIPAA and administrative policy guidelines.
  • Open loans for various projects (windows, siding, roofs, etc .).
  • Maintain deposits, receipts, PTA funds, money collections; orders and distributes supplies.
  • Support PTA leadership with information and assistance for continuity of programming.
  • Initiate and monitor requisitions through PeopleSoft for office supplies, laboratory supplies including purchasing lab animals for research and travel reimbursement.

Service secretary skills and personality traits

We calculated that 14% of Service Secretaries are proficient in Patients, Customer Service, and Data Entry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Organizational skills, and Writing skills.

We break down the percentage of Service Secretaries that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 14%

    Assisted patients in the admission process, verifying insurance coverage and providing medical procedure information.

  • Customer Service, 14%

    Performed quality customer service including answering calls, scheduling appointments, processes documents and answering general provider and client questions.

  • Data Entry, 9%

    Assisted in office clerical responsibilities including personnel management, data entry, filing, invoice generation, and client database management.

  • Payroll, 7%

    Developed/implemented/monitored annual budgets and payroll system for both departments.

  • Telephone Calls, 7%

    Answer, screen and refer telephone calls; assist internal and external customers at a public counter and by telephone.

  • Word Processing, 6%

    Provided administrative support including skilled word processing, filing, and faxing and general mail correspondence.

Most service secretaries use their skills in "patients," "customer service," and "data entry" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential service secretary responsibilities here:

Interpersonal skills. One of the key soft skills for a service secretary to have is interpersonal skills. You can see how this relates to what service secretaries do because "secretaries and administrative assistants interact with clients, customers, or staff." Additionally, a service secretary resume shows how service secretaries use interpersonal skills: "general office duties as assigned skills used microsoft office suite 2010 customer service interpersonal skills"

Organizational skills. Another essential skill to perform service secretary duties is organizational skills. Service secretaries responsibilities require that "secretaries and administrative assistants keep files, folders, and schedules in order so that an office runs efficiently." Service secretaries also use organizational skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "prepared organizational budget and monthly financial reports and consolidated bank statements. "

Writing skills. service secretaries are also known for writing skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to service secretary responsibilities, because "secretaries and administrative assistants write memos and emails when communicating with managers, employees, and customers." A service secretary resume example shows how writing skills is used in the workplace: "communicate tactfully, effectively, and diplomatically with patients and co-worker, both orally/writing. "

Most common service secretary skills

The three companies that hire the most service secretarys are:

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Compare different service secretaries

Service secretary vs. Administrative receptionist

An administrative receptionist is responsible for performing administrative tasks, handling visitors' inquiries and concerns, verifying appointments, and leading them to the appropriate personnel and department, as well as handling and routing calls. Administrative receptionists also keep records of the staff meeting and executive conference, including company and promotional events. They receive packages and mail, sort documents, manage office supply inventories, create incident reports, and report suspicious guests within the premises. An administrative receptionist must have excellent communication and customer service skills, especially on resolving and escalating complaints.

The annual salary of administrative receptionists is $554 higher than the average salary of service secretaries.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between service secretaries and administrative receptionists are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like patients, customer service, and data entry.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between service secretaries and administrative receptionist. For instance, service secretary responsibilities require skills such as "purchase orders," "database management," "secretarial support," and "meeting minutes." Whereas a administrative receptionist is skilled in "phone calls," "hr," "telephone switchboard," and "greeting visitors." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Administrative receptionists tend to make the most money working in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $32,669. In contrast, service secretaries make the biggest average salary, $33,759, in the manufacturing industry.administrative receptionists tend to reach similar levels of education than service secretaries. In fact, administrative receptionists are 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Service secretary vs. Administrative associate

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.

Administrative associate positions earn higher pay than service secretary roles. They earn a $3,925 higher salary than service secretaries per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Service secretaries and administrative associates both require similar skills like "patients," "customer service," and "data entry" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, service secretary responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "appointment scheduling," "database management," "secretarial support," and "office machines." Meanwhile, an administrative associate has duties that require skills in areas such as "medical terminology," "patient care," "eagle," and "phone calls." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, administrative associates earn a higher salary than service secretaries. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, administrative associates earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $41,923. Whereas service secretaries have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $33,759.In general, administrative associates achieve similar levels of education than service secretaries. They're 4.8% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Service secretary vs. Administrative professional

An administrative professional specializes in performing administrative support and clerical tasks in a company or office, ensuring accuracy and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around managing schedules, arranging appointments and meetings, producing progress reports and presentations, delegating tasks, and attending meetings on behalf of executives or staff. There are also instances when an administrative assistant must answer calls and correspondence, respond to inquiries and concerns, welcome guests, relay messages, and provide staff with any support tasks or documents.

An average administrative professional eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of service secretaries. The difference in salaries amounts to administrative professionals earning a $8,538 higher average salary than service secretaries.By looking over several service secretaries and administrative professionals resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "customer service," "data entry," and "payroll." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a service secretary is likely to be skilled in "patients," "appointment scheduling," "purchase orders," and "secretarial support," while a typical administrative professional is skilled in "sharepoint," "phone calls," "office procedures," and "reservations."

When it comes to education, administrative professionals tend to earn higher degree levels compared to service secretaries. In fact, they're 5.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Service secretary vs. Administrative aide

An administrative aide performs daily administrative support tasks in an office, helping to keep the workflow smooth and efficient. Their duties typically include organizing and disseminating documents, answering calls and correspondence, forwarding messages, greeting visitors and answering inquiries, and preparing and processing files. They may also participate in monitoring the inventory of office supplies, handling procurement requests when necessary. Furthermore, an administrative aide may also serve as the record-keeper of the office, updating databases in adherence to the company's policies and regulations.

Administrative aides typically earn higher pay than service secretaries. On average, administrative aides earn a $7,766 higher salary per year.While both service secretaries and administrative aides complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like customer service, data entry, and payroll, the two careers vary in some skills.Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A service secretary uses "patients," "appointment scheduling," "medicaid," and "service calls." Administrative aides are more likely to have duties that require skills in "proofreading," "financial aid," "hr," and "scheduling appointments. "administrative aides enjoy the best pay in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $40,662. For comparison, service secretaries earn the highest salary in the manufacturing industry.administrative aides reach similar levels of education compared to service secretaries, in general. The difference is that they're 3.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of service secretary

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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