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Switchboard receptionist vs office specialist

The differences between switchboard receptionists and 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 switchboard receptionist and an office specialist. Additionally, an office specialist has an average salary of $33,477, which is higher than the $31,601 average annual salary of a switchboard receptionist.

The top three skills for a switchboard receptionist include data entry, greeting visitors and front desk. The most important skills for an office specialist are customer service, data entry, and patients.

Switchboard receptionist vs office specialist overview

Switchboard ReceptionistOffice Specialist
Yearly salary$31,601$33,477
Hourly rate$15.19$16.09
Growth rate--5%
Number of jobs27,91498,760
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4247
Years of experience22

Switchboard receptionist vs office specialist salary

Switchboard receptionists and office specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Switchboard ReceptionistOffice Specialist
Average salary$31,601$33,477
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $38,000Between $25,000 And $43,000
Highest paying City-Washington, DC
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Brookhaven National Laboratory
Best paying industry-Finance

Differences between switchboard receptionist and office specialist education

There are a few differences between a switchboard receptionist and an office specialist in terms of educational background:

Switchboard ReceptionistOffice Specialist
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-Western Carolina University

Switchboard receptionist vs office specialist demographics

Here are the differences between switchboard receptionists' and office specialists' demographics:

Switchboard ReceptionistOffice Specialist
Average age4247
Gender ratioMale, 5.8% Female, 94.2%Male, 18.3% Female, 81.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 5.9% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 8.4% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between switchboard receptionist and office specialist duties and responsibilities

Switchboard receptionist example responsibilities.

  • Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
  • Assist office management and staff with administrative projects/responsibilities such as managing time-sensitive projects, filing, copying, and collating materials.
  • Provide efficient and professional telephone services in challenging mental health office while upholding confidentiality under HIPAA standards.

Office specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide support for enrolling patients into health coverage programs and manage sensitive patient information to ensure accuracy and confidentiality.
  • Manage and maintain patients' medical records by utilizing computer applications management database processing system to ensure county compliance.
  • Manage operational FedEx relationship through order fulfillment, shipment tracking, and communication with parties involve in shipment transaction.
  • Provide assistance to office staff including preparing and proofreading memos and grants, transcribing meeting minutes for staff and answering phones.
  • Perform multiple bookkeeping duties including departmental payroll, print financial reports and other financial material as needed.
  • Communicate HIPAA compliance to staff, field and outside agencies.
  • Show more

Switchboard receptionist vs office specialist skills

Common switchboard receptionist skills
  • Data Entry, 15%
  • Greeting Visitors, 14%
  • Front Desk, 12%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 11%
  • Telephone Calls, 9%
  • Multi-Line Phone System, 7%
Common office specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Data Entry, 10%
  • Patients, 9%
  • Office Equipment, 6%
  • Phone Calls, 6%
  • Word Processing, 4%

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