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The differences between clinical associates and clinical medical assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a clinical associate, becoming a clinical medical assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a clinical associate has an average salary of $91,027, which is higher than the $37,052 average annual salary of a clinical medical assistant.
The top three skills for a clinical associate include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for a clinical medical assistant are patients, patient care, and vital signs.
| Clinical Associate | Clinical Medical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $91,027 | $37,052 |
| Hourly rate | $43.76 | $17.81 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 56,977 | 233,464 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Associate Degree, 27% |
| Average age | 44 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A clinical associate is responsible for supporting the operations of a medical facility by performing administrative and clerical duties as needed to provide high-quality care services for the patients and assisting health care professionals in performing medical procedures. Clinical associates monitor the conditions of the patients, administer medication, collect laboratory samples, and conduct initial medical assessments such as checking temperature and vital signs. A clinical associate must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on addressing different patients' needs and reporting the patients' progress to the physicians.
A clinical medical assistant specializes in performing administrative and clinical tasks in a hospital or similar setting. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering a patient's information, medical history, test results, and other essential documentation, and updating patient medical records. Other tasks include reaching out to patients' families and guardians, assisting health workers with room preparation and patient care, and preparing medications and other treatments, all in adherence to a physician's directives. Furthermore, a clinical medical assistant may conduct inspections to ensure that the hospital complies with government regulations.
Clinical associates and clinical medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Associate | Clinical Medical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $91,027 | $37,052 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $208,000 | Between $29,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a clinical associate and a clinical medical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Associate | Clinical Medical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Associate Degree, 27% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | Duke University | - |
Here are the differences between clinical associates' and clinical medical assistants' demographics:
| Clinical Associate | Clinical Medical Assistant | |
| Average age | 44 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0% | Male, 10.8% Female, 89.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 7.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 8.6% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 9.1% White, 51.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 6% |