Career comparison
Administrative Assistant vs. Correspondence Clerk
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Administrative assistants earn more at the median ($47,540 vs. $46,800), while correspondence clerks usually get to work faster (A few weeks on the job of training). Administrative assistants keep offices organized: calendars, communication, documents and logistics. Correspondence clerks answer customer letters and emails about accounts, claims and complaints.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Administrative Assistant | Correspondence Clerk | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $47,540 ($22.86/hr) | $46,800 ($22.50/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $33,280 – $66,350 | $33,300 – $64,510 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -6.0% (a projected decline) | -5.6% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 163,900 | 500 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | Weeks to months | A few weeks on the job |
| Key credential | CAP (IAAP) | Business writing course |
| Work setting | Administrative assistants work in offices across every industry: schools, hospitals, law firms, government, construction companies and corporations. | Clerks work in offices and remotely.. |
What each job does
Administrative Assistant
- Manage calendars and schedule meetings
- Answer phones, emails and visitors professionally
- Prepare documents, presentations and spreadsheets
- Organize physical and digital files and records
- Coordinate travel, events and meeting logistics
Correspondence Clerk
- Read incoming letters and emails
- Research accounts
- Write replies
- Send forms and records
- Route complex cases
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, steady routines, and remote-friendly work. Both are part of the business & office field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose administrative assistant if…
- I’m highly organized and detail-oriented
- I like helping a team run smoothly
- I’m comfortable with computers and software
Choose correspondence clerk if…
- I write clearly
- I’m accurate
- I like quiet work
Still torn? Take the Administrative Assistant fit quiz and the Correspondence Clerk fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, administrative assistant or correspondence clerk?
Administrative Assistants earn more at the median: $47,540 versus $46,800 for correspondence clerks, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Correspondence Clerks typically train faster (A few weeks on the job) than administrative assistants (Weeks to months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects correspondence clerks to grow -5.6% from 2025–35, compared with -6.0% for administrative assistants.