Crew vs. Staff: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Crew" refers to a group of individuals who collaborate closely, often in a practical or operational role, while "staff" refers to a group of people hired by an organization to perform administrative, technical, or professional duties.
Key Differences
Crew typically refers to people who work together in a specific operational or manual labor setting, like on a ship, aircraft, or film set. Staff, however, encompasses a wider range of employees in an organization, including administrative, technical, and professional workers.
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The term crew often implies a closer level of collaboration and hands-on work, particularly in fields like aviation, maritime, and entertainment. Staff, in contrast, denotes employees in various roles and departments within an organization, often with a broader scope of responsibilities.
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Crew members usually have specific skills tailored to operational tasks and often work in environments requiring teamwork and physical presence. Staff members may have diverse roles, from administrative assistants to software engineers, emphasizing a variety of skills and responsibilities.
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In usage, crew is often associated with teamwork and a sense of camaraderie in facing operational challenges. Staff, on the other hand, connotes a more formal employment structure, with a focus on the organizational and functional aspects of a company or institution.
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The term crew often brings to mind images of people working in unison in dynamic environments, such as a film crew or cabin crew. Staff, however, brings to mind a more static image, such as office workers or the staff of a hospital, highlighting the diversity of roles within an institution.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Setting
Operational environments (e.g., ships, planes, film sets)
Organizations (e.g., offices, hospitals)
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Nature of Work
Hands-on, operational tasks
Administrative, technical, professional roles
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Collaboration Level
High, with close teamwork
Varied, often departmentalized
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Skill Specialization
Task-specific and often physical
Diverse, including non-physical skills
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Implication
Teamwork in dynamic settings
Employment in a structured organization
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Crew and Staff Definitions
Crew
Team members of a sports team, especially in rowing.
The rowing crew trained hard for the upcoming regatta.
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Staff
The employees of an organization, company, or institution.
The company’s staff attended a team-building retreat.
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Crew
A group of people involved in a particular illicit activity.
The police were tracking the movements of the suspected crew.
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Staff
The team of employees in a school or educational institution.
The school staff planned an innovative curriculum for the academic year.
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Staff
Pl. staffs A rule or similar graduated stick used for testing or measuring, as in surveying.
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Staff
A group of assistants to a manager, executive, or other person in authority.
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Staff
A group of military officers assigned to assist a commanding officer in an executive or advisory capacity.
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Staff
The personnel who carry out a specific enterprise
The nursing staff of a hospital.
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Crew
To serve as a crew member on
The space station will be crewed by a team of eight people.
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Staff
(Music) A set of horizontal lines and intermediate spaces used in notation to represent a sequence of pitches, in modern notation normally consisting of five lines and four spaces. Also called stave.
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Staff
A building material of plaster and fiber used as an exterior wall covering of temporary buildings, as at expositions.
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Crew
A group of people (often staff) manning and operating a large facility or piece of equipment such as a factory, ship, boat, airplane, or spacecraft.
If you need help, please contact a member of the crew.
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Crew
A group of people working together on a task.
The crews competed to cut the most timber.
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Staff
A long, straight, thick wooden rod or stick, especially one used to assist in walking.
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Crew
(arts) The group of workers on a dramatic production who are not part of the cast.
There are a lot of carpenters in the crew!
The crews for different movies would all come down to the bar at night.
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Staff
A series of horizontal lines on which musical notes are written; a stave.
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Crew
A close group of friends.
I'd look out for that whole crew down at Jack's.
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Staff
The employees of a business.
The company employed 10 new members of staff this month.
The company has taken on 1600 more highly-paid staff.
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Staff
(uncountable) A mixture of plaster and fibre used as a temporary exterior wall covering.W
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Staff
A pole, stick, or wand borne as an ensign of authority; a badge of office.
A constable's staff
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Staff
A series of verses so disposed that, when it is concluded, the same order begins again; a stanza; a stave.
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Crew
(plural: crew) A member of the crew of a vessel or plant.
One crew died in the accident.
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Crew
A worker on a dramatic production who is not part of the cast.
There were three actors and six crew on the set.
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Staff
(surgery) The grooved director for the gorget, or knife, used in cutting for stone in the bladder.
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Crew
A member of a ship's company who is not an officer.
The officers and crew assembled on the deck.
There are quarters for three officers and five crew.
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Staff
(military) An establishment of officers in various departments attached to an army, to a section of an army, or to the commander of an army. The general's staff consists of those officers about his person who are employed in carrying his commands into execution.
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Staff
A form of token once used, in combination with a ticket, for safe train movements between two points on a single line.
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Staff
(transitive) To supply (a business, volunteer organization, etc.) with employees or staff members.
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Crew
To be a member of a vessel's crew
We crewed together on a fishing boat last year.
The ship was crewed by fifty sailors.
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Staff
A long piece of wood; a stick; the long handle of an instrument or weapon; a pole or stick, used for many purposes; as, a surveyor's staff; the staff of a spear or pike.
And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar to bear it withal.
With forks and staves the felon to pursue.
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Crew
To be a member of a work or production crew
The film was crewed and directed by students.
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Staff
A stick carried in the hand for support or defense by a person walking; hence, a support; that which props or upholds.
The boy was the very staff of my age.
He spoke of it [beer] in "The Earnest Cry," and likewise in the "Scotch Drink," as one of the staffs of life which had been struck from the poor man's hand.
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Staff
A pole, stick, or wand borne as an ensign of authority; a badge of office; as, a constable's staff.
Methought this staff, mine office badge in court,Was broke in twain.
All his officers brake their staves; but at their return new staves were delivered unto them.
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Crew
(nautical) To do the proper work of a sailor
The crewing of the vessel before the crash was deficient.
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Staff
The round of a ladder.
I ascended at one [ladder] of six hundred and thirty-nine staves.
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Staff
A series of verses so disposed that, when it is concluded, the same order begins again; a stanza; a stave.
Cowley found out that no kind of staff is proper for an heroic poem, as being all too lyrical.
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Crew
A company of people associated together; an assemblage; a throng.
There a noble crewOf lords and ladies stood on every side.
Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?
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Staff
The five lines and the spaces on which music is written; - formerly called stave.
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Crew
The company of seamen who man a ship, vessel, or at; the company belonging to a vessel or a boat.
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Crew
In an extended sense, any small body of men associated for a purpose; a gang; as (Naut.), the carpenter's crew; the boatswain's crew.
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Staff
The grooved director for the gorget, or knife, used in cutting for stone in the bladder.
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Staff
An establishment of officers in various departments attached to an army, to a section of an army, or to the commander of an army. The general's staff consists of those officers about his person who are employed in carrying his commands into execution. See État Major.
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Staff
Hence: A body of assistants serving to carry into effect the plans of a superintendent or manager; sometimes used for the entire group of employees of an enterprise, excluding the top management; as, the staff of a newspaper.
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Staff
Plaster combined with fibrous and other materials so as to be suitable for sculpture in relief or in the round, or for forming flat plates or boards of considerable size which can be nailed to framework to make the exterior of a larger structure, forming joints which may afterward be repaired and concealed with fresh plaster.
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Staff
Personnel who assist their superior in carrying out an assigned task;
The hospital has an excellent nursing staff
The general relied on his staff to make routine decisions
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Staff
The body of teachers and administrators at a school;
The dean addressed the letter to the entire staff of the university
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Crew
A group of people working together, especially in a manual or labor-intensive job.
The construction crew worked tirelessly to finish the building on time.
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Staff
A strong rod or stick with a specialized utilitarian purpose;
He walked with the help of a wooden staff
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Crew
The personnel operating a ship, aircraft, or train.
The flight crew prepared for a smooth takeoff.
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Staff
Building material consisting of plaster and hair; used to cover external surfaces of temporary structure (as at an exposition) or for decoration
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Crew
A group of people who work closely in a specific field or project.
The film crew was praised for their excellent work on the movie.
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Staff
(music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written
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Staff
People responsible for the administrative or organizational work of an institution.
The hospital staff worked diligently to manage the influx of patients.
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Staff
A group of advisers or assistants working collectively for a person or organization.
The senator's staff prepared briefing notes for the meeting.
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Staff
The employees in a store or business.
The store’s staff were knowledgeable and helpful.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can staff include managers and executives?
Yes, staff can encompass all levels of employees, including management.
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Is crew often used for temporary teams?
Yes, it can refer to temporary groups assembled for specific projects or operations.
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Do crew members usually require specialized skills?
Often, yes, especially in fields like aviation or film production.
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Is crew used more in specific industries?
Yes, crew is commonly used in industries like aviation, maritime, and entertainment.
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Is staff a more formal term than crew?
Generally, staff is seen as more formal and encompasses a broader range of roles.
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Are staff members always salaried employees?
Not necessarily, staff can include both salaried and hourly workers.
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Can staff be used to refer to academic personnel?
Yes, it's often used for employees in educational institutions.
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Can staff include remote or virtual workers?
Yes, staff can include employees working in any capacity, including remotely.
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Is the term staff used globally?
Yes, it's a widely used term in various countries and cultures.
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Can staff refer to employees in non-profit organizations?
Yes, staff can be used for employees in any type of organization, including non-profits.
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Can crew refer to people involved in illegal activities?
Yes, it can also be used to describe groups involved in illicit activities.
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Does crew imply a more hands-on approach to work?
Yes, it typically implies more operational and hands-on tasks.
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Is crew size typically smaller than staff size?
Not necessarily; it depends on the context and the size of the project or organization.
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Can crew members also be part of the staff?
Yes, crew members can be considered part of the staff in their respective organizations.
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Can crew be used in sports contexts?
Yes, especially in rowing where a team is often referred to as a crew.
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Does staff imply a permanent employment structure?
It often does, but it can also include temporary or contract workers.
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Nov 13, 2023
Does crew imply a stronger sense of teamwork?
Often, yes, especially in settings like film production or on ships.
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Can crew refer to a group of friends or associates?
Informally, yes, it can refer to a group of people with common interests.
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Is the term staff used in military contexts?
Yes, it's used to refer to personnel working in various capacities in the military.
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Are staff roles more varied than crew roles?
Typically, yes, as staff encompasses a wider range of professional and administrative roles.
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Nov 13, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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