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Student worker vs student employee

The differences between student workers and student employees can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a student worker, becoming a student employee takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a student worker has an average salary of $25,735, which is higher than the $24,086 average annual salary of a student employee.

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

Student worker vs student employee overview

Student WorkerStudent Employee
Yearly salary$25,735$24,086
Hourly rate$12.37$11.58
Growth rate9%-5%
Number of jobs82,35312,497
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4247
Years of experience42

What does a student worker do?

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.

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 worker vs student employee salary

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

Student WorkerStudent Employee
Average salary$25,735$24,086
Salary rangeBetween $19,000 And $34,000Between $17,000 And $32,000
Highest paying CityAlbany, NYDenver, CO
Highest paying stateConnecticutColorado
Best paying companyUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
Best paying industryRetailEducation

Differences between student worker and student employee education

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

Student WorkerStudent Employee
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaNorthwestern University

Student worker vs student employee demographics

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

Student WorkerStudent Employee
Average age4247
Gender ratioMale, 38.7% Female, 61.3%Male, 46.1% Female, 53.9%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage10%6%

Differences between student worker and student employee duties and responsibilities

Student worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage club documents and advertise several events through Facebook.
  • Exhibit patient care CPR experience in CNA
  • Maintain neat appearance and cleanliness of the library.
  • Assist with maintaining the cleanliness of the dining room
  • Mow and edge lawns, using power mowers and weed eaters.
  • Provide excellent customer service while assisting students in completing online applications for FAFSA and admissions.
  • 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 worker vs student employee skills

Common student worker skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Front Desk, 11%
  • Twitter, 8%
  • Financial Aid, 6%
  • PowerPoint, 5%
  • Computer Lab, 4%
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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