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The differences between clinical associates and doctors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a doctor has an average salary of $208,582, which is higher than the $91,027 average annual salary of a clinical associate.
The top three skills for a clinical associate include patients, rehabilitation and home health. The most important skills for a doctor are patients, customer service, and emergency medicine.
| Clinical Associate | Doctor | |
| Yearly salary | $91,027 | $208,582 |
| Hourly rate | $43.76 | $100.28 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 56,977 | 14,571 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
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 doctor is a medical expert who diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries, often specializing in particular areas. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial interviews and examinations, studying a patient's medical history and laboratory results, providing consultations and care advice, prescribing medication, and referring patients to specialists when necessary. They must also coordinate and maintain an active communication line with nurses, administrators, and technicians for a smooth workflow. Moreover, a doctor must educate patients about their health conditions, helping them understand their situation better.
Clinical associates and doctors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Associate | Doctor | |
| Average salary | $91,027 | $208,582 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $208,000 | Between $106,000 And $408,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Green Bay, WI |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Ohio |
| Best paying company | University of Iowa Center for Advancement | Saint Luke's Health System |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a clinical associate and a doctor in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Associate | Doctor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Medicine |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between clinical associates' and doctors' demographics:
| Clinical Associate | Doctor | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 28.0% Female, 72.0% | Male, 45.8% Female, 54.2% |
| 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, 5.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 18.6% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 13% |