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The differences between assistants-at surgery and registered medical 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 registered medical assistant. Additionally, an assistant-at-surgery has an average salary of $81,630, which is higher than the $36,580 average annual salary of a registered medical assistant.
The top three skills for an assistant-at-surgery include patients, surgical procedures and HIPAA. The most important skills for a registered medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and office procedures.
| Assistant-At-Surgery | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $81,630 | $36,580 |
| Hourly rate | $39.25 | $17.59 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 154,070 | 183,988 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| 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.
The primary job of registered medical assistants is to perform clinical and administrative tasks in a healthcare setting. They offer support services to physicians, so the latter have plenty of time to care for patients. They carry out varied administrative, clerical, and clinical tasks that include taking vital signs, filing records, and scheduling patient appointments. Other responsibilities include discussing treatment procedures to patients, interacting with patients, and collecting laboratory specimens such as tissue and blood. Ideal characteristics to become a registered medical assistant include being compassionate, can work well with people, and adaptable.
Assistants-at surgery and registered medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assistant-At-Surgery | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $81,630 | $36,580 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $215,000 | Between $26,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Physician Affiliate Group of New York | Griffin Hospital |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an assistant-at-surgery and a registered medical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Assistant-At-Surgery | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 30% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between assistants-at surgery' and registered medical assistants' demographics:
| Assistant-At-Surgery | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.5% Female, 74.5% | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% |
| 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, 11.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 8.7% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |