Post job

Medical assistant instructor vs medical specialist

The differences between medical assistant instructors and medical specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a medical assistant instructor and a medical specialist. Additionally, a medical assistant instructor has an average salary of $40,698, which is higher than the $40,277 average annual salary of a medical specialist.

The top three skills for a medical assistant instructor include patients, vital signs and patient care. The most important skills for a medical specialist are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Medical assistant instructor vs medical specialist overview

Medical Assistant InstructorMedical Specialist
Yearly salary$40,698$40,277
Hourly rate$19.57$19.36
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs180,02568,607
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 27%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a medical assistant instructor do?

An assistant medical instructor is responsible for supporting medical instructors in teaching medical students for programs and processes, depending on their area of expertise. Assistant medical instructors handle the preparation of learning materials and other related resources according to the class level and curriculum. They also serve as a liaison between the instructor and the students to respond with inquiries and concerns, resolve learning difficulties, and document examinations. An assistant medical instructor must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in maintaining organized student records and updating the grading system as needed.

What does a medical specialist do?

Medical specialists are responsible for diagnosing patients and performing medical procedures according to their areas of expertise. They coordinate with the clinical team on administering medications, conducting laboratory examinations, and monitoring admitted patients, ensuring that they receive high-quality care services from the medical staff. A medical specialist also communicates with the patients' families to respond to their medical inquiries and concerns, as well as providing them with updates on the patients' progress. A medical specialist observes the cleanliness and orderliness of the facilities at all times, including the inspection of medical tools and equipment for operations.

Medical assistant instructor vs medical specialist salary

Medical assistant instructors and medical specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical Assistant InstructorMedical Specialist
Average salary$40,698$40,277
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $60,000Between $21,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityFramingham, MABoston, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyErlanger Health SystemAdobe
Best paying industryEducation-

Differences between medical assistant instructor and medical specialist education

There are a few differences between a medical assistant instructor and a medical specialist in terms of educational background:

Medical Assistant InstructorMedical Specialist
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 27%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorMedical Assisting ServicesNursing
Most common college--

Medical assistant instructor vs medical specialist demographics

Here are the differences between medical assistant instructors' and medical specialists' demographics:

Medical Assistant InstructorMedical Specialist
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 18.6% Female, 81.4%Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.2% Asian, 9.8% White, 50.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 9.0% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between medical assistant instructor and medical specialist duties and responsibilities

Medical assistant instructor example responsibilities.

  • Manage two full classes of 30+ students each and ensure all comply with OSHA and the schools' standards and guidelines.
  • Utilize nursing process and critical thinking skill and manage flight medic activities in combat deployment environment.
  • Prepare students to sit for the national CPC exam through AAPC.
  • Facilitate anatomy and physiology courses.
  • Prepare procedure papers, perform routine laboratory procedures such as urinalysis, and assist physician with procedure set ups.
  • Teach multiple classes each semester of CPT-4, ICD-10-CM/PCS, and HCPCS coding.
  • Show more

Medical specialist example responsibilities.

  • Administer first aid, medication, emergency medical treatment, CPR, triage, and evacuation procedures.
  • Provide tactical medical instruction and services in emergency medical care of patients in austere and complex, out-of-hospital environments.
  • Provide mass casualty triage support, including administering emergency treatment, stabilizing patients, and routing them to appropriate medical facilities.
  • Provide wound care, sutures, injections, and CPR as needed.
  • Take vitals, = collecting co-pays, appt scheduling, radiology scheduling, triage, etc.
  • Operate equipment such as: electrocardiograms (EKGs), external defibrillators, and bag-valve mask resuscitators in advance life-support environments.
  • Show more

Medical assistant instructor vs medical specialist skills

Common medical assistant instructor skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Vital Signs, 9%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Phlebotomy, 7%
  • CPR, 6%
  • EKG, 6%
Common medical specialist skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Utilization Management, 5%
  • Medical Management, 4%
  • Patient Education, 4%

Browse healthcare support jobs