Post job

Clinical assistant vs lead medical assistant

The differences between clinical assistants and lead 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 a clinical assistant and a lead medical assistant. Additionally, a lead medical assistant has an average salary of $38,303, 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 a lead medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and patient care.

Clinical assistant vs lead medical assistant overview

Clinical AssistantLead Medical Assistant
Yearly salary$30,215$38,303
Hourly rate$14.53$18.41
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs101,926163,228
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Associate Degree, 27%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

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 a lead medical assistant do?

A lead medical assistant performs administrative support tasks for clinical teams to provide optimal care and services to patients. They work under the supervision of a clinical manager whom they report to regularly. Among their responsibilities include establishing staff schedules and guidelines, conducting research and analysis, coordinating staff, reviewing medical charts and reports, organizing documents, and training new members of the workforce. Moreover, they may also assist patients by answering inquiries, performing follow-up calls to confirm appointment schedules, and preparing patients by giving them the information they need.

Clinical assistant vs lead medical assistant salary

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

Clinical AssistantLead Medical Assistant
Average salary$30,215$38,303
Salary rangeBetween $13,000 And $66,000Between $23,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CityBrockton, MA-
Highest paying stateMassachusetts-
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New York-
Best paying industryPharmaceutical-

Differences between clinical assistant and lead medical assistant education

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

Clinical AssistantLead Medical Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Associate Degree, 27%
Most common majorPsychologyMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Clinical assistant vs lead medical assistant demographics

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

Clinical AssistantLead Medical Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 18.4% Female, 81.6%Male, 11.9% Female, 88.1%
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, 9.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 26.6% Asian, 8.7% White, 49.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between clinical assistant and lead medical 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

Lead medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage company financial accounts, including employee payroll and tax document preparations.
  • Ensure the laboratory is CLIA compliant for semi-annual certification, provide annual CLIA waive competence.
  • Perform all staff yearly reviews and yearly competencies on the CLIA waive testing done in the office.
  • Alphabetize medications, accurately update and record patient medications and allergies in patient chart upon each visit.
  • Learned basic human anatomy and physiology.
  • Follow OSHA laboratory safety policies and procedures.
  • Show more

Clinical assistant vs lead medical assistant skills

Common clinical assistant skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • PET, 8%
  • Vital Signs, 6%
  • CPR, 3%
  • Phlebotomy, 3%
Common lead medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Surgical Procedures, 5%
  • EKG, 5%
  • Phlebotomy, 4%

Browse healthcare support jobs