Office Support Clerk Vs Office Technician

The differences between office support clerks and office technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an office support clerk and an office technician. Additionally, an office technician has an average salary of $34,956, which is higher than the $32,040 average annual salary of an office support clerk.

The top three skills for an office support clerk include customer service, data entry and word processing. The most important skills for an office technician are data entry, patients, and office equipment.

Office support clerk vs office technician overview

Office Support ClerkOffice Technician
Yearly Salary$32,040$34,956
Hourly rate$15.40$16.81
Growth Rate-5%-5%
Number Of Jobs185,68382,512
Job Satisfaction--
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average Age4747
Years Of Experience22

What does an Office Support Clerk do?

Office support clerks are professionals who provide clerical and administrative duties that support the daily activities of an organization's office setting. These clerks are required to answer incoming calls from clients while maintaining all office and cleaning supplies for the organization. They must communicate with clients and direct them to the appropriate department to ensure quality customer service. Office support clerks must also utilize the automated word processing equipment so that they can produce reports, statistical information, and other departmental information.

What does an office technician do?

An Office Technician handles installation and repair tasks by using power tools and manual equipment safely and effectively. Besides installing, maintaining, and repairing central office equipment, an office technician also installs, tests, and labels cable lines. They deactivate, activate, and maintain office equipment. Other duties performed by office technicians include removing non-functional and unused office equipment, managing equipment stations and telecommunication rooms cabling, and maintaining inspection, repair, maintenance, and installation documents. Also, these professionals work as per environmental, safety, and health policies.

Office support clerk vs office technician salary

Office support clerks and office technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Office Support ClerkOffice Technician
Average Salary$32,040$34,956
Salary RangeBetween $25,000 And $39,000Between $25,000 And $48,000
Highest Paying CityTualatin, ORAnchorage, AK
Highest Paying StateWashingtonHawaii
Best Paying CompanySierra Pacific IndustriesMotorola Solutions
Best Paying IndustryFinanceConstruction

Differences between office support clerk and office technician education

There are a few differences between an office support clerk and an office technician in terms of educational background:

Office Support ClerkOffice Technician
Most Common DegreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most Common MajorBusinessBusiness
Most Common CollegeWestern Carolina UniversityWestern Carolina University

Office support clerk vs office technician demographics

Here are the differences between office support clerks' and office technicians' demographics:

Office Support ClerkOffice Technician
Average Age4747
Gender RatioMale, 22.7% Female, 77.3%Male, 30.0% Female, 70.0%
Race RatioBlack or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 7.7% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 8.5% White, 54.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between office support clerk and office technician duties and responsibilities

Office Support Clerk Example Responsibilities.

  • Use EMR software to manage patient records and files; reinforce and uphold patient confidentiality as required by HIPAA and clinic.
  • Audit all deductions for each employee on payroll for various deductions such as; health care, dental and uniforms.
  • Initiate contact among current and potential clients by assisting in application process, new hire paperwork, and client payroll.
  • Compile PowerPoint presentations for various department heads.
  • Assist in creating Microsoft PowerPoint presentations and other documents for staff development and productivity.
  • Handle administrative work relate to operational process of the office and patients clinical information.
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Office Technician Example Responsibilities.

  • Manage operational FedEx relationship through order fulfillment, shipment tracking, and communication with parties involve in shipment transaction.
  • Interact with SCO divisions, other agencies and campuses and the public, to resolve distribution problems concerning mail and payroll.
  • Communicate payroll information with employees.
  • Verify eligibility and coverage with Medicaid and Medicare.
  • Certify to perform refraction to patients participating in clinical trials.
  • Provide patients with surgical and procedural information and instructions as appropriate.
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Office support clerk vs office technician skills

Common Office Support Clerk Skills
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Data Entry, 17%
  • Word Processing, 7%
  • Office Equipment, 6%
  • Front Desk, 5%
  • Database Systems, 5%
Common Office Technician Skills
  • Data Entry, 16%
  • Patients, 11%
  • Office Equipment, 7%
  • Office Procedures, 7%
  • Word Processing, 5%
  • Payroll, 4%

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