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The differences between assistants-at surgery and medical research assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an assistant-at-surgery and a medical research assistant. Additionally, an assistant-at-surgery has an average salary of $81,630, which is higher than the $40,303 average annual salary of a medical research assistant.
The top three skills for an assistant-at-surgery include patients, surgical procedures and HIPAA. The most important skills for a medical research assistant are patients, patient care, and DR.
| Assistant-At-Surgery | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $81,630 | $40,303 |
| Hourly rate | $39.25 | $19.38 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 154,070 | 125,533 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An assistant at surgery is a medical professional who assists surgeons and nurses during surgical operations and other procedures. They are responsible for setting up and maintaining the cleanliness of operating rooms, preparing and sanitizing tools and equipment, understanding the operations' course, and preparing the patients pre-surgery through interviews and assessments. During the surgery, they provide direct assistance to the surgeon by handing the correct tools, monitoring the patients' vital signs, attaching tubes, and even closing wounds. Moreover, as an assistant at surgery, it is essential to be proactive and have a clear mind presence.
A medical research assistant is primarily in charge of performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar environment. Their responsibilities include gathering and organizing samples, preparing the laboratories and other facilities, compiling and managing data, updating databases, and conducting examinations and analysis, all while adhering to the laboratory's policies and regulations. They may also liaise with clients, answering inquiries as necessary. Furthermore, it is vital to maintain an active line with researchers, coordinating with them every step of the way to ensure an efficient workflow.
Assistants-at surgery and medical research assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant-At-Surgery | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Average salary | $81,630 | $40,303 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $215,000 | Between $25,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Worcester, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Physician Affiliate Group of New York | Norton Rose Fulbright |
| Best paying industry | - | Education |
There are a few differences between an assistant-at-surgery and a medical research assistant in terms of educational background:
| Assistant-At-Surgery | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between assistants-at surgery' and medical research assistants' demographics:
| Assistant-At-Surgery | Medical Research Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.5% Female, 74.5% | Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 9.7% White, 51.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.3% Asian, 9.7% White, 50.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |