Office Coordinator vs. Administrative Assistant: What Are the Differences?

Both office coordinators and administrative assistants play vital roles in keeping an office running smoothly. If you’re interested in a career in office administration, understanding the key similarities and differences between these positions can help you decide which is the best fit for you. In this article, we compare and contrast the job duties, skills and qualifications of an office coordinator and an administrative assistant. We also provide information on salary and job outlook for each profession.

What is an Office Coordinator?

Office Coordinators play a vital role in keeping an office running smoothly. They are responsible for a variety of administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, managing calendars, handling correspondence, preparing reports and ordering office supplies. They may also be responsible for greeting visitors, directing them to the appropriate person or department, and providing them with any information they need. In some cases, Office Coordinators may also provide support to other departments within the company. They may be responsible for coordinating events, handling travel arrangements or managing projects.

What is an Administrative Assistant?

Administrative Assistants provide high-level administrative support for company leaders to ensure they can efficiently accomplish key tasks and company initiatives. They keep the executive’s communications organized so that they can easily access the most important information without having to sort through low-priority items. Administrative Assistants screen all visitors and determine what level of support they need while offering polite, professional customer service. They manage the executive’s daily calendar, including scheduling meetings, confirming appointments, writing itineraries and arranging for transportation. Administrative Assistants also train other administrative staff on company policies and best practices.

Office Coordinator vs. Administrative Assistant

Here are the main differences between an office coordinator and an administrative assistant.

Job Duties

Administrative assistants often have more complex job duties than office coordinators. While an office coordinator might organize the office space and manage the daily operations, administrative assistants might take on more advanced tasks. For example, they might prepare correspondence for other staff members or work with vendors to place orders. They might also handle human resources responsibilities like conducting interviews, preparing performance reviews and providing employee benefits information.

Office coordinators typically have more routine and straightforward duties. They might perform basic clerical functions like filing documents or typing memos. They might also answer phone calls from clients and provide customer service by answering questions or directing calls elsewhere.

Job Requirements

Office coordinators and administrative assistants typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the field. However, some employers may prefer candidates with an associate degree or postsecondary certificate in office administration or a related field. Additionally, many office coordinators and administrative assistants pursue professional certification through organizations like the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) or the National Association of Administrative Professionals (NAAP). These certifications can demonstrate advanced skills and knowledge in the field and help professionals stand out to potential employers.

Work Environment

Administrative assistants typically work in an office environment, where they may spend their entire day sitting at a desk. They often have more responsibilities than office coordinators and may be responsible for completing tasks that require them to travel between different departments or locations. For example, an administrative assistant who works in human resources may need to visit the company’s manufacturing facility to conduct employee evaluations.

Office coordinators usually work in an office environment as well, but they may also work in other environments such as hospitals, schools or retail stores. This is because many of the duties of an office coordinator involve supporting employees in various settings. For example, an office coordinator working in a school may help teachers with classroom management and student records.

Skills

Both office coordinators and administrative assistants use a variety of skills in their jobs. These can include customer service, communication, organization, time management and computer skills. However, there are some key differences in the skills that each position requires.

Office coordinators typically need to have strong interpersonal skills to interact with employees, clients and vendors. They also need to be able to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing. Additionally, they need to be highly organized to coordinate various office functions, like scheduling meetings and managing office supplies.

Administrative assistants also need to have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. However, they may not need to be as organized as an office coordinator because they typically only handle the administrative duties for one department or manager. Additionally, they may need to have specific computer skills, like creating spreadsheets or presentations, depending on the needs of their department.

Salary

The average salary for an office coordinator is $44,318 per year, while the average salary for an administrative assistant is $45,618 per year. Both of these salaries may vary depending on the size of the company, the location of the job and the level of experience the employee has prior to taking the position.