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The differences between clinical assistants 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 a clinical assistant and a registered medical assistant. Additionally, a registered medical assistant has an average salary of $36,580, 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 registered medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and office procedures.
| Clinical Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $30,215 | $36,580 |
| Hourly rate | $14.53 | $17.59 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 101,926 | 183,988 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
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.
Clinical assistants and registered medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $30,215 | $36,580 |
| Salary range | Between $13,000 And $66,000 | Between $26,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Brockton, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Griffin Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a clinical assistant and a registered medical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Psychology | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between clinical assistants' and registered medical assistants' demographics:
| Clinical Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 18.4% Female, 81.6% | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 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% |