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The differences between student office assistants and clerks/assistant 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 a clerk/assistant. Additionally, a clerk/assistant has an average salary of $32,674, 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 a clerk/assistant are customer support, telephone calls, and word processing.
| Student Office Assistant | Clerk/Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $24,666 | $32,674 |
| Hourly rate | $11.86 | $15.71 |
| Growth rate | -5% | -5% |
| Number of jobs | 73,080 | 114,718 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| 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.
A clerk is someone who performs administrative tasks assigned by a manager or by other employees. The job includes responsibilities like dealing with correspondence, data maintenance through manual or computer systems, filing, and related general office duties. It involves typing letters, reports, and any other business-related documents. Clerks sort and respond to emails or forward them to other employees. They need to develop skills in typing, administrative duties, customer service and relations, and attention to detail.
Student office assistants and clerks/assistant have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Student Office Assistant | Clerk/Assistant | |
| Average salary | $24,666 | $32,674 |
| Salary range | Between $16,000 And $36,000 | Between $25,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Denver, CO | Long Beach, CA |
| Highest paying state | Colorado | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Minneapolis Community and Technical College | United States Courts |
| Best paying industry | Government | Finance |
There are a few differences between a student office assistant and a clerk/assistant in terms of educational background:
| Student Office Assistant | Clerk/Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between student office assistants' and clerks/assistant' demographics:
| Student Office Assistant | Clerk/Assistant | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3% | Male, 27.5% Female, 72.5% |
| 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, 10.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 8.3% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |