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Clinical assistant vs assistant

The differences between clinical assistants and assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a clinical assistant, becoming an assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, an assistant has an average salary of $37,363, which is higher than the $30,215 average annual salary of a clinical assistant.

The top three skills for a clinical assistant include patients, customer service and PET. The most important skills for an assistant are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Clinical assistant vs assistant overview

Clinical AssistantAssistant
Yearly salary$30,215$37,363
Hourly rate$14.53$17.96
Growth rate16%-8%
Number of jobs101,926557,900
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age3750
Years of experience122

What does a clinical assistant do?

A clinical assistant is responsible for assisting medical professionals with medical procedures and ensure a high level of patient care. Clinical assistants perform minor clinic procedures such as taking patients' temperature, sterilizing medical equipment, proper dumping of disposable items, responding to patients' inquiries and concerns, processing payments, arranging appointment schedules, and maintaining an organized record of patients' information, such as their medical history and health insurance records. A clinical assistant must strictly adhere to sanitary and hygienic procedures at all times to promote a safe and clean environment for the patients.

What does an assistant do?

An assistant intern is responsible for facilitating administrative and clerical tasks as assigned by the management. Assistant interns' duties include keeping records of meetings, receiving calls and handling customer inquiries, assisting on writing reports and data entry processing, cooperating and providing support for business events, and adhering to company policies and regulatory procedures. Successful assistant interns must have excellent time-management, multi-tasking, and communication skills. They must be a team player and fast-learner to handle various tasks in the corporate industry.

Clinical assistant vs assistant salary

Clinical assistants and assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Clinical AssistantAssistant
Average salary$30,215$37,363
Salary rangeBetween $13,000 And $66,000Between $16,000 And $82,000
Highest paying CityBrockton, MABoston, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New YorkLatham & Watkins
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalEducation

Differences between clinical assistant and assistant education

There are a few differences between a clinical assistant and an assistant in terms of educational background:

Clinical AssistantAssistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorPsychologyBusiness
Most common college-Western Carolina University

Clinical assistant vs assistant demographics

Here are the differences between clinical assistants' and assistants' demographics:

Clinical AssistantAssistant
Average age3750
Gender ratioMale, 18.4% Female, 81.6%Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between clinical assistant and assistant duties and responsibilities

Clinical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Participate in multiple studies managing CTM activities for various therapeutic areas simultaneously including oncology, urology, transplant, and immunology.
  • Interview patients and interpret EKG recordings transmit via telephone.
  • Maintain CPR certification on yearly basis and perform errands as per the instructions of supervisor.
  • Act as a paramedic including CPR, heart defibrillator, first aid, emergency care.
  • Schedule necessary test such as nerve conductions studies, bone scans, and MRI's.
  • Conduct mini-meetings with small groups of doctors to encourage them to take ownership of their EMR forms.
  • Show more

Assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage circulations, including educational textbooks and DVDS, video technology and supplies.
  • Manage branches providing information technology support, logistics, training and operational support.
  • Manage company's twitter account and communicate with multiple physical therapy providers around the country
  • Optimize productivity in prioritizing and managing special projects, PowerPoint presentations for classes, and proctore exams for undergraduate classes.
  • Assist in jewelry design and assembly, manage company Facebook page, participate in wholesale buying, and manage retail inventory
  • Manage and update company Facebook page with daily updates, finding/sharing relevant and interesting information, and encouraging fan engagement.
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Clinical assistant vs assistant skills

Common clinical assistant skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • PET, 8%
  • Vital Signs, 6%
  • CPR, 3%
  • Phlebotomy, 3%
Common assistant skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Sales Floor, 5%
  • Scheduling Appointments, 3%

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