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The differences between student workers and work-study assistants 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 work-study assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a student worker has an average salary of $25,735, which is higher than the $25,211 average annual salary of a work-study assistant.
The top three skills for a student worker include customer service, front desk and twitter. The most important skills for a work-study assistant are financial aid, data entry, and customer service.
| Student Worker | Work-Study Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $25,735 | $25,211 |
| Hourly rate | $12.37 | $12.12 |
| Growth rate | 9% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 82,353 | 40,622 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
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.
A work-study assistant's responsibilities depend on his/her or her place of employment. His/Her or her duties include processing paperwork, responding to inquiries, and maintaining records. The essential skills that a work-study assistant should possess to accomplish his/her or her responsibilities include good writing, interpersonal, and organizational skills. The education requirements to qualify for the job include obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree in the field of business, psychology, and criminal justice.
Student workers and work-study assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Student Worker | Work-Study Assistant | |
| Average salary | $25,735 | $25,211 |
| Salary range | Between $19,000 And $34,000 | Between $18,000 And $34,000 |
| Highest paying City | Albany, NY | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | University of California, Berkeley | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Education |
There are a few differences between a student worker and a work-study assistant in terms of educational background:
| Student Worker | Work-Study Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between student workers' and work-study assistants' demographics:
| Student Worker | Work-Study Assistant | |
| Average age | 42 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 38.7% Female, 61.3% | Male, 36.9% Female, 63.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 6% |