![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.outsourceschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/admin-assistant-vs-executive-assistant-kobu-agency-7okkFhxrxNw-unsplash.jpg\")
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Admin assistant vs executive assistant: what’s the difference?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you are someone who was never sure of the distinction and overlaps between these two positions, don\u2019t worry. You aren\u2019t alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here, we will go through 10 main facets of these job positions. Our goal is to help you understand each of them and be able to tell them apart. Let\u2019s get started!<\/span><\/p>\n Their responsibilities center around administrative tasks or back-office duties. These are usually organizational in nature and require those who are good managers of time, personnel, and, at times, resources. Every industry has administrative needs, whether it\u2019s finance, medicine, or fashion. Admin assistants can also have specialized roles and responsibilities depending on the company, department, or industry they work in. For instance, an admin assistant could be proficient in areas like inbox management and CRM. Their clerical role helps keep the office running and running smoothly.<\/span><\/p>\n As the name suggests, their focus is making the lives of chief executives easier. Their role usually molds around the specific needs of their bosses. These assistants may also work on administrative tasks, but they have other main roles. Companies can hire them on to perform project management tasks, administrative duties and even fulfill the role of an executive PA (personal assistant).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n EAs also perform the above administrative duties, just at a higher level. Other than admin, an <\/span>executive virtual assistant can help your business<\/span><\/a> by taking on management and leadership duties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n An EA can:<\/span><\/p>\n Note: These lists are not exhaustive but hopefully they help you compare admin assistant vs executive assistant duties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some of the most common skills companies ask\/look for when hiring for these positions.<\/span><\/p>\n They do have a level of autonomy as far as managing their tasks, but they must report to their supervisor. As a support role, they don\u2019t normally make decisions that impact business operations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n EAs do possess some executive power, able to delegate tasks and convey instructions on behalf of executives. They can also manage other admin assistants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There really isn\u2019t any hard degree requirement for either of these positions. Companies tend to focus more on skills and work experience. A lot of <\/span>admin assistant interview questions<\/span><\/a> center on software and hard skills. However, if you do have a degree, that is always a plus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some applicable degrees include:<\/span><\/p>\n Because of the level of responsibility associated with the position, most companies look for degrees almost as a security measure. These tend to stand out on a resume and can give them more confidence in a candidate\u2019s abilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hiring managers also typically look for valuable certifications as well. This includes courses related to software proficiency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, we all know that a degree isn\u2019t always everything. There are many well-known <\/span>successful people without a degree<\/span><\/a>. A fresh business administration graduate and a college dropout with 10 years of admin assistant experience are two different things. When choosing candidates, consider real experience on top of knowledge of business principles. When creating your <\/span>executive assistant job descriptions<\/span><\/a>, know which qualifications are flexible and which ones you won’t compromise on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking of experience\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n When talking about admin assistant vs executive assistant experience requirements, the former definitely has it easier. They could very well get an admin position or get hired as an admin or general VA at the entry level. Industry specific experience is valuable, especially if they are looking for higher-level positions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n EAs typically have to start from a lower-ranking position and work their way up. It isn\u2019t uncommon to see an admin assistant graduate to this position after many years of hard work. A history of working closely with high-ranking individuals of other companies will definitely breed more trust in their capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n Note: While rare, some businesses can prefer EA candidates with less experience. One reason is that blank slates can be easier to mold to a company-specific work culture, practice, methods, SOPs, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are several factors that affect rate: skill level, experience, scope of work, country, and specialization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here are the estimated hourly rates for three tiers of admin work.<\/span><\/p>\n Entry-level – $8-$10\/hr<\/span><\/p>\n Mid-level – $15-$25\/hr<\/span><\/p>\n Expert level – $30+\/hr<\/span><\/p>\n Naturally, EAs tend to have higher rates even in lower tiers due to ability, workload, experience, and position.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for more entry level EAs, you\u2019re looking at around $15\/hr.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Generally, though, you can expect more experienced EAs to charge between $25-$50\/hr depending on the load.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The nature of the roles means they will have access to sensitive data.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For one, they usually handle client and customer information and contacts. If they are in charge of inbox management, that also gives them access to emails and the information within. If performing bookkeeping duties, they handle information regarding company spending habits and cash flow. They may also have access to information contained in certain reports and documents. This is usually confined to their departments, though.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n EAs are privy to a lot more sensitive information at a much higher level. Not only do EAs interact with high-profile clients, they also interact with business partners and executives of other companies. They arrange travel and meetings, meaning they are privy to the whereabouts of these individuals. They typically also have access to company credit cards and make purchases on behalf of executives. Important documents usually go through them before reaching the higher-ups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They typically report to their team leader or managing director. Administration is generally holistic. Because of this, assistants may sometimes report to other department heads and staff. <\/span><\/p>\n An EA reports directly to executives and sometimes works together with other department heads and team managers. Executive assistants can also often be in charge of other admin staff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Admin assistance is a good foundation for a number of different career advancement options. One we\u2019ve already discussed is working their way up to higher levels of administrative support roles like the executive assistant. Another option is to become managers and supervisors themselves. If they pursue specialization, they could go on to be higher-ranking members of accounting, IT, or HR departments. They could also venture into the medical, legal, or finance industries and use their admin skills there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Executive assistants also have a few options available. For one, they could continue being EAs to even more high-ranking CEOs or executives of larger and more prestigious companies. Another role that an EA can build towards is that of chief of staff. These people have advisory and executive roles. They help make better decisions for the company and help to ensure the best execution of company vision. EAs themselves can also attempt to move into higher-ranking positions themselves as directors, chief business officers, and even business owners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Administrative assistant is a lower-ranking support position. They can specialize in several fields like accounting or even become managers and EAs themselves. They report to the department heads, managers, or team leaders they are under.<\/span><\/p>\n Executive assistants are high-ranking support positions that include managerial roles. Depending on their role, they could also need specialized knowledge in certain areas. However, the main thing is that they report to executives directly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are some overlaps, especially when it comes to administration tasks like scheduling, filing, and managing communications. However, EAs execute tasks at a higher level than admin assistants (hence the name), and thus, hold more power.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Absolutely! It\u2019s one potential career path an admin assistant can embark on. This does bank on their abilities and may take a few years and promotions to other positions along the way. <\/span><\/p>\n Outsource School<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>helps you to unlock the potential of virtual assistants and accelerate your business growth.<\/p>\n This is the exact system Outsource School\u2019s founders,\u00a0Nathan Hirsch<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Connor Gillivan<\/strong><\/a>, used to go from zero to 8 figures and 40+ virtual assistants with an exit in 2019.<\/p>\n Since being founded in 2020, Outsource School has helped 1,000+ business owners hire 2,000+ virtual assistants for their companies.<\/p>\n Schedule a free sales call to learn more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Free resources you might like:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n When talking about admin assistants vs executive assistants, you can see how easy it is to confuse the two. However, by breaking down the positions into ten main areas, it\u2019s much easier now to see how they are distinct. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Admin assistant vs executive assistant: what’s the difference?\u00a0 If you are someone who was never sure of the distinction and overlaps between these two positions, don\u2019t worry. You aren\u2019t alone.\u00a0 Here, we will go through 10 main facets of these job positions. Our goal is to help you understand each of them and be able […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":8012,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n1. Comparison of Roles<\/b><\/h2>\n
Admin Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
Executive Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
2. Duties and Responsibilities<\/b><\/h2>\n
Admin Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Executive Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
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3. Skills Required<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.outsourceschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/virtual-assistant-skills-mimi-thian-ZKBzlifgkgw-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAdmin Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
Executive Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
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4. Authority and Decision-Making<\/b><\/h2>\n
Admin Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
Executive Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
5. Educational Requirement<\/b><\/h2>\n
Admin Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Executive Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
6. Work Experience<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.outsourceschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/virtual-assistant-skills-marissa-grootes-Mw9KxYkqsnk-unsplash-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAdmin Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
Executive Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
7. Salary and Compensation<\/b><\/h2>\n
Admin Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
Executive Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
8. Confidentiality and Discretion<\/b><\/h2>\n
Admin Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
Executive Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
9. Interaction with Management<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"arms](\"https:\/\/www.outsourceschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/headway-5QgIuuBxKwM-unsplash-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAdmin Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
Executive Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
10. Career Path and Advancement<\/b><\/h2>\n
Admin Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
Executive Assistant<\/b><\/h3>\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/b><\/h2>\n
1. What is the main difference between an administrative assistant and an executive assistant?<\/b><\/h3>\n
2. Are the roles of admin and executive assistants interchangeable?<\/b><\/h3>\n
3. Can an administrative assistant be promoted to an executive assistant?<\/b><\/h3>\n
What Is Outsource School?<\/h2>\n
![\"outsource](\"https:\/\/www.outsourceschool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Screen-Shot-2023-03-08-at-10.31.34-AM-300x124.png\")
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Conclusion<\/h2>\n