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The differences between student office assistants and student workers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a student office assistant, becoming a student worker takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a student worker has an average salary of $25,735, 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 student worker are customer service, front desk, and twitter.
| Student Office Assistant | Student Worker | |
| Yearly salary | $24,666 | $25,735 |
| Hourly rate | $11.86 | $12.37 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 73,080 | 82,353 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
Student workers are students who are employed while also enrolled at the university. They usually work in a department or college where they handle different tasks. Most of the time, student workers are assigned to do administrative activities. Their tasks include sorting mail, sending outgoing mail, manning telephone lines, filing documents, updating records, liaising with other departments, and documenting meetings, among others. Student-workers may also be assigned to handle or assist in university-wide events and activities. They are expected to be technologically savvy so that they can really help out in the department they are assigned to. Student-workers should be responsible, trustworthy, and diligent.
Student office assistants and student workers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Student Office Assistant | Student Worker | |
| Average salary | $24,666 | $25,735 |
| Salary range | Between $16,000 And $36,000 | Between $19,000 And $34,000 |
| Highest paying City | Denver, CO | Albany, NY |
| Highest paying state | Colorado | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Minneapolis Community and Technical College | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Government | Retail |
There are a few differences between a student office assistant and a student worker in terms of educational background:
| Student Office Assistant | Student Worker | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between student office assistants' and student workers' demographics:
| Student Office Assistant | Student Worker | |
| Average age | 47 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.7% Female, 71.3% | Male, 38.7% Female, 61.3% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 10% |