Although many people think being an office assistant is easy, the truth is that administrative assistants work hard to make everyone else's life easier. A good office assistant is the glue that holds an office together. This type of career is not glamorous, and often pays less than the national average. If you decide to pursue a career as an office assistant, consider getting a degree in order to increase your pay. The average computer office assistant salary will vary depending on your position, location, and education.

Office clerks and receptionists earn the lowest computer office assistant salary at $22,770 per year for entry-level positions. This job is one of the least demanding, however. Receptionists are responsible for answering phones, taking messages, and performing basic clerical work. Office clerks and receptionists can work for the whole office or for a specific person. A receptionist generally does not supervise others; he or she also has little autonomy. Though this position is not the most glamorous, good receptionists are certainly well appreciated. The average salary, including both entry-level and senior positions, is $32,000 per year.

Data entry clerks have the most repetitive office assistant job. A data entry clerk is responsible for entering a variety of data into programs and databases. Transcriptionists are also considered data entry clerks. If you wish to work in data entry, you might be able to find work at a credit card company, hospital, insurance company, or doctor's office. The average computer office assistant salary for a data entry clerk is $28,000 per year. Those with a degree can greatly increase their earning potential. Unfortunately, this position is often outsourced. If you wish to keep your position, you will need to learn new skills and take on other office duties.

Administrative assistants have more responsibilities than other types of office assistants. An administrative assistant generally works for a specific person within an office. He or she not only performs clerical and administrative work, but may also supervise others as necessary. Administrative assistants have more autonomy than receptionists or secretaries. An administrative assistant might also conduct research, review memos, and handle travel arrangements. The average computer office assistant salary for an administrative assistant is $34,000 per year, but administrative assistants in senior positions can expect to earn as much as $54,000 annually.

Although the pay for these positions might seem low, you should keep in mind that you can increase your earning potential by getting a computer office assistant degree. These programs are generally associate's degrees that take two years or less to complete. You can expect to take courses in finance, accounting, computer software, shorthand, transcription, dictation, customer service and data entry. A good degree program can greatly increase your value to your employer. You will learn how to better interact with customers, use new programs, and prepare presentations and other documents. Your new skills will allow you to take on more responsibilities around the office. Try getting your associate's degree to increase your computer office assistant salary as soon as possible.