Secretary vs. Stenographer — What's the Difference?

A secretary is responsible for a variety of administrative and clerical duties in an office setting. This role often includes managing schedules, handling correspondence, organizing files, and performing general office tasks. A stenographer, on the other hand, specializes in transcribing spoken words into written text quickly and accurately. This is typically done using shorthand or a stenotype machine. Stenographers are often employed in legal settings, such as courtrooms, where they create verbatim transcripts of proceedings.

Secretaries typically perform a broader range of tasks that support office management and efficiency. Their role is essential in keeping office operations running smoothly by coordinating various administrative functions. Conversely, stenographers focus on the specific task of transcription, requiring specialized skills in shorthand or using stenotype machines to ensure accuracy and speed in capturing spoken language.

The training and skills required for each profession also differ. Secretaries need strong organizational, communication, and multitasking abilities, often requiring proficiency in office software. In contrast, stenographers require specialized training in transcription techniques and must achieve a high degree of typing accuracy and speed, often exceeding 200 words per minute.

While both roles are crucial in their respective fields, the scope of a secretary's work is broader and more varied, encompassing numerous administrative duties. A stenographer's work is more specialized, centering on the precise and rapid transcription of spoken words.