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Clinical assistant vs physician assistant

The differences between clinical assistants and physician assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physician assistant has an average salary of $118,812, 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 physician assistant are patients, diagnostic tests, and surgery.

Clinical assistant vs physician assistant overview

Clinical AssistantPhysician Assistant
Yearly salary$30,215$118,812
Hourly rate$14.53$57.12
Growth rate16%28%
Number of jobs101,92639,752
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age3739
Years of experience12-

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 physician assistant do?

The physician assistant, also known as "PA," is now considered a key player to any healthcare team. Physician assistants are health care professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians. They work on several areas of medicine, from primary care to emergency service and even psychiatry. Neither they are a doctor nor a physician, but their job profile showcases many of these responsibilities. More than as assistants to the doctors, they are also equipped to examine, diagnose, and develop treatment strategies for patients.

Clinical assistant vs physician assistant salary

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

Clinical AssistantPhysician Assistant
Average salary$30,215$118,812
Salary rangeBetween $13,000 And $66,000Between $70,000 And $201,000
Highest paying CityBrockton, MABoston, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsVermont
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New YorkMarshall University
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalEducation

Differences between clinical assistant and physician assistant education

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

Clinical AssistantPhysician Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorPsychologyPhysician Assistant
Most common college-Duke University

Clinical assistant vs physician assistant demographics

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

Clinical AssistantPhysician Assistant
Average age3739
Gender ratioMale, 18.4% Female, 81.6%Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4%
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, 5.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage6%12%

Differences between clinical assistant and physician 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.
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Physician assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage a variety of acute and chronic conditions especially asthma, allergies, injuries, and infectious diseases.
  • Manage chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, ASCVD, chronic back and joint pains, depression, and anxiety.
  • Manage patient surgical care throughout the continuum of care from pre-op, to discharge planning, including ambulatory and hospital in-patients.
  • Attain pertinent history & physicals for obstetrics and gynecological acute and preventative visits.
  • Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
  • Aid in the acute management of trauma patients including obtaining appropriate studies, suturing, and CPR.
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Clinical assistant vs physician assistant skills

Common clinical assistant skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • PET, 8%
  • Vital Signs, 6%
  • CPR, 3%
  • Phlebotomy, 3%
Common physician assistant skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Diagnostic Tests, 6%
  • Surgery, 5%
  • Primary Care, 5%
  • Urgent Care, 4%
  • CPR, 3%

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