Administrative Aide vs. Administrative Assistant: What Are the Differences?

If you’re interested in working in an administrative role, you may be wondering what the difference is between an administrative aide and an administrative assistant. Both positions are responsible for providing support to an organization, but there are key differences in the duties each role performs. In this article, we discuss the similarities and differences between an administrative aide and an administrative assistant, and we provide information on what you can expect from each position.

What is an Administrative Aide?

An Administrative Aide is responsible for providing clerical and administrative support to an organization. They might work in a variety of settings, such as a school, hospital, or law office. Their duties can vary depending on the organization they work for, but can include answering phones, filing paperwork, and preparing documents. Administrative Aides might also be responsible for scheduling appointments, coordinating events, and managing projects. To be successful in this role, Administrative Aides must be organized, detail-oriented, and able to multitask. They should also have excellent written and verbal communication skills.

What is an Administrative Assistant?

An Administrative Assistant provides administrative support to an individual or team within an organization. They perform a variety of tasks to keep the office running smoothly, such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, managing correspondence and preparing reports. Administrative Assistants often act as the first point of contact for visitors and callers, so they must be able to handle inquiries and direct people to the appropriate person or department. They also often manage office supplies and equipment, and may be responsible for ordering new supplies when needed.

Administrative Aide vs. Administrative Assistant

Here are the main differences between an administrative aide and an administrative assistant.

Job Duties

Administrative assistants and administrative aides have some of the same job duties, such as answering phones, greeting clients and providing administrative support to executives. However, an administrative assistant is more likely to have advanced job duties because of their higher level position. For example, an administrative assistant might help manage projects by scheduling meeting times, taking notes during meetings and distributing documents to team members.

Administrative aides are more likely to perform basic job duties, such as filing paperwork or typing correspondence for clients. Aides may also assist with office maintenance tasks, such as cleaning or replacing supplies.

Job Requirements

Administrative aides and administrative assistants typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the field. However, some employers prefer candidates with an associate degree in business administration or a related field. Additionally, many organizations offer on-the-job training programs that teach administrative aides and administrative assistants how to use specific software or perform other tasks they might need to do in their role.

Work Environment

Administrative aides work in a variety of environments, depending on the company they’re working for. They may work in an office setting or other professional environment, such as a hospital or school. Administrative aides often work full time and during regular business hours.

Administrative assistants typically work in an office environment, but some also work in hospitals, schools or other facilities. They usually work full time and during regular business hours. Some administrative assistants work overtime to complete projects or meet deadlines.

Skills

Administrative aides and administrative assistants both provide support to an organization by performing clerical tasks. These can include answering phones, responding to emails, preparing documents and scheduling appointments. Because they perform similar duties, they also use many of the same skills, such as customer service, communication, organization and time management.

However, there are some differences in the specific skills used on the job between these two positions. Administrative aides typically have less experience than administrative assistants and may require more training to perform their duties. They also may be responsible for more basic tasks, such as data entry, while administrative assistants often handle more complex tasks, such as preparing reports or coordinating travel arrangements. As a result, administrative assistants usually need stronger computer skills than administrative aides.

Salary

Administrative aides and administrative assistants both work in office settings, but their salaries differ. Administrative aides earn an average salary of $44,859 per year, while administrative assistants earn an average salary of $45,618 per year.