Post job

Word processing secretary vs administrative receptionist

The differences between word processing secretaries and administrative receptionists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a word processing secretary and an administrative receptionist. Additionally, a word processing secretary has an average salary of $43,970, which is higher than the $31,502 average annual salary of an administrative receptionist.

The top three skills for a word processing secretary include scheduling appointments, telephone calls and travel arrangements. The most important skills for an administrative receptionist are customer service, patients, and data entry.

Word processing secretary vs administrative receptionist overview

Word Processing SecretaryAdministrative Receptionist
Yearly salary$43,970$31,502
Hourly rate$21.14$15.15
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs16,05791,892
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age5050
Years of experience22

Word processing secretary vs administrative receptionist salary

Word processing secretaries and administrative receptionists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Word Processing SecretaryAdministrative Receptionist
Average salary$43,970$31,502
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $65,000Between $25,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City-Oakland, CA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Beacon Hill Staffing Group
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between word processing secretary and administrative receptionist education

There are a few differences between a word processing secretary and an administrative receptionist in terms of educational background:

Word Processing SecretaryAdministrative Receptionist
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 32%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University

Word processing secretary vs administrative receptionist demographics

Here are the differences between word processing secretaries' and administrative receptionists' demographics:

Word Processing SecretaryAdministrative Receptionist
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 8.6% Female, 91.4%Male, 8.0% Female, 92.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between word processing secretary and administrative receptionist duties and responsibilities

Word processing secretary example responsibilities.

  • Manage fireworks inventory through QuickBooks and process customer wholesale orders.
  • Coordinate meeting agendas, compose correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, PowerPoint presentations.
  • Scan and create PDF files and Metz files.
  • Process all letters, memo and faxes via Wang using merge documents.
  • Transpose lengthy documents via Dictaphone or long hand for a professional final product.
  • Create, revise and prepare documents for all departments; transcribe from Dictaphone.
  • Show more

Administrative receptionist example responsibilities.

  • Manage travel reimbursements, and reconcile process and forward to payroll for assign individuals.
  • Act as primary liaison between patients, physical therapists and physicians while accomplishing miscellaneous duties necessary for maintaining operations.
  • Sort first class mail, FedEx, campus mail and all incoming mail daily.
  • Draft correspondence and other written material, develop PowerPoint slides and graphic presentations for demographic analysts.
  • Issue shipping instructions and provide routing information to ensure that payroll delivery times and locations are coordinate.
  • Greet visitors, and respond to telephone and in-person requests for information for sole-practitioner office serving several hundr patients.
  • Show more

Word processing secretary vs administrative receptionist skills

Common word processing secretary skills
  • Scheduling Appointments, 13%
  • Telephone Calls, 11%
  • Travel Arrangements, 6%
  • Real Estate, 5%
  • Law Firm, 5%
  • Secretarial Support, 5%
Common administrative receptionist skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Patients, 12%
  • Data Entry, 11%
  • Phone Calls, 8%
  • Front Desk, 6%
  • Word Processing, 4%

Browse office and administrative jobs