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The differences between student office assistants and administrative office specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a student office assistant and an administrative office specialist. Additionally, an administrative office specialist has an average salary of $35,177, which is higher than the $24,666 average annual salary of a student office assistant.
The top three skills for a student office assistant include data entry, phone calls and customer service. The most important skills for an administrative office specialist are customer service, data entry, and word processing.
| Student Office Assistant | Administrative Office Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $24,666 | $35,177 |
| Hourly rate | $11.86 | $16.91 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 73,080 | 96,945 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Student office assistants are responsible for answering and directing phone calls, taking messages, and communicating with customers and other staff members. Other duties and responsibilities of a student office assistant include making and arranging appointments, monitoring and restocking office supplies, and helping with some administrative tasks. They are also responsible for computing, recording, and proofreading data such as timesheets, reports, and records. This role's qualifications may vary from one organization to another, however, the basics include excellent communication skills and proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
An administrative office specialist helps offices to run efficiently and smoothly by performing clerical support tasks. Their responsibilities often include preparing and processing documents, arranging meetings and appointments, monitoring the budgets and expenditures, answering calls and correspondence, handling the inventory and procurement of office supplies, and developing strategies to optimize office operations. They may also address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and professionally. Furthermore, as an administrative office specialist, it is essential to coordinate staff, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Student office assistants and administrative office specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Student Office Assistant | Administrative Office Specialist | |
| Average salary | $24,666 | $35,177 |
| Salary range | Between $16,000 And $36,000 | Between $28,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Denver, CO | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Colorado | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Minneapolis Community and Technical College | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Government | Technology |
There are a few differences between a student office assistant and an administrative office specialist in terms of educational background:
| Student Office Assistant | Administrative Office Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between student office assistants' and administrative office specialists' demographics:
| Student Office Assistant | Administrative Office Specialist | |
| Average age | 47 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3% | Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 10.1% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 4.0% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |