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Student assistant vs student employee

The differences between student assistants and student employees can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student assistant has an average salary of $25,439, which is higher than the $24,086 average annual salary of a student employee.

The top three skills for a student assistant include customer service, front desk and administrative assistance. The most important skills for a student employee are customer service, food safety, and financial aid.

Student assistant vs student employee overview

Student AssistantStudent Employee
Yearly salary$25,439$24,086
Hourly rate$12.23$11.58
Growth rate4%-5%
Number of jobs29,09312,497
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4447
Years of experience-2

What does a student assistant do?

Student assistants are university students who are working part-time for a staff member or department. They are usually assigned to do administrative or clerical activities to help ease the load of their supervisor. They may manage files and information dissemination channels of the department. They may extend assistance during the registration period by helping other students fill out forms, managing the department's enrollment procedure, or doing any other activity required by their supervisor. They may also be asked to mentor younger students. Student assistants should be organized and trustworthy.

What does a student employee do?

Student employees are students who have a job within a school campus. Their duties may include working in the classrooms, cafeterias, and dorms. These employees receive a salary for their work, provided they maintain the grade requirements set by the school. The requirements for this position vary for every school. These may include having a minimum of 3.0 for graduates and 2.0 for undergraduates. They typically work 40 hours a week and may hold two or more positions to reach the required number of work hours.

Student assistant vs student employee salary

Student assistants and student employees have different pay scales, as shown below.

Student AssistantStudent Employee
Average salary$25,439$24,086
Salary rangeBetween $17,000 And $37,000Between $17,000 And $32,000
Highest paying CityAlbany, NYDenver, CO
Highest paying stateRhode IslandColorado
Best paying companyNcar - The National Center For Atmospheric ResearchUniversity of California, Berkeley
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between student assistant and student employee education

There are a few differences between a student assistant and a student employee in terms of educational background:

Student AssistantStudent Employee
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Student assistant vs student employee demographics

Here are the differences between student assistants' and student employees' demographics:

Student AssistantStudent Employee
Average age4447
Gender ratioMale, 36.8% Female, 63.2%Male, 46.1% Female, 53.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 8.1% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 10.3% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between student assistant and student employee duties and responsibilities

Student assistant example responsibilities.

  • Help troubleshoot public computers according to directions and also manage database of library.
  • Adhere to all aspects of FERPA and student confidentiality guidelines.
  • Answer phone, run errands, take messages, help office manager
  • Order, open and distribute office supplies weekly, and run errands.
  • Clean and stock supplies in restrooms, wash windows, walls and fix light fixtures.
  • Perform CPR during emergency rotation.
  • Show more

Student employee example responsibilities.

  • Manage club documents and advertise several events through Facebook.
  • Install structures and fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, and trim.
  • Instruct in helping students who struggle with mathematics.
  • Enhance, retouch, and resize photographs using Photoshop.
  • Create posters promote special guest speakers visiting CNM using Photoshop.
  • Coordinate college recruitment activities at career fairs, high school scholarship awards and specific industry requests.
  • Show more

Student assistant vs student employee skills

Common student assistant skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Front Desk, 8%
  • Administrative Assistance, 7%
  • Financial Aid, 7%
  • PowerPoint, 6%
  • Office Equipment, 5%
Common student employee skills
  • Customer Service, 22%
  • Food Safety, 9%
  • Financial Aid, 7%
  • Front Desk, 7%
  • Food Preparation, 5%
  • Public Facilities, 4%

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