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The differences between dental assistant externs and medical assisting externs can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a dental assistant extern, becoming a medical assisting extern takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a dental assistant extern has an average salary of $38,679, which is higher than the $35,737 average annual salary of a medical assisting extern.
The top three skills for a dental assistant extern include patients, dental procedures and patient care. The most important skills for a medical assisting extern are patients, vital signs, and EKG.
| Dental Assistant Extern | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Yearly salary | $38,679 | $35,737 |
| Hourly rate | $18.60 | $17.18 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 24,154 | 81,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 38 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Dental assistant externs are responsible for various office and laboratory tasks in a dentist's clinic or office. They may provide patient care, but the procedures they can perform vary by state. Their duties and responsibilities may include preparing patients for the dental examination, organizing and maintaining laboratory equipment and supplies, and scheduling appointments. Also, they are responsible for recording dental and medical histories of patients and providing aftercare, such as instructing patients on proper oral hygiene. Dental assistants may also perform other duties such as fluoride application and polishing.
A medical assisting extern is responsible for supporting the medical team in ensuring that the patients are offered the best care services by providing treatments and medications. Medical assisting externs' duties include practicing their medical skills by shadowing on medical professionals' activities, assisting patients with their inquiries and concerns, facilitating medical procedures with the doctor's supervision, and learning to operate medical tools and equipment as needed. A medical assisting extern must have excellent knowledge in the health industry, as well as a fast-learner to be familiarized with the complexities of medical processes and procedures.
Dental assistant externs and medical assisting externs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dental Assistant Extern | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Average salary | $38,679 | $35,737 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $52,000 | Between $26,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a dental assistant extern and a medical assisting extern in terms of educational background:
| Dental Assistant Extern | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between dental assistant externs' and medical assisting externs' demographics:
| Dental Assistant Extern | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Average age | 38 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% | Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.7% Asian, 10.4% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.1% Asian, 9.6% White, 50.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 6% |