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The differences between medical 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 medical assistant and a registered medical assistant. Additionally, a registered medical assistant has an average salary of $36,580, which is higher than the $34,900 average annual salary of a medical assistant.
The top three skills for a medical assistant include patients, vital signs and patient care. The most important skills for a registered medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and office procedures.
| Medical Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $34,900 | $36,580 |
| Hourly rate | $16.78 | $17.59 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 189,915 | 183,988 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 24% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Medical assistants provide support to medical practitioners in both administrative and clerical tasks. They keep and update the patient's medical records, administer medicines under the supervision of a physician, assist during medical examinations, prepare medical samples for laboratory testing, manage the schedule of appointments, and assist the patients with their bills and in filling out needed forms, such as insurance-related documents. Medical assistants should have good communication skills and analytical skills, be organized, and be flexible. They should also have knowledge of how to operate some medical equipment such as x-ray machines.
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.
Medical assistants and registered medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $34,900 | $36,580 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $43,000 | Between $26,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Vancouver, WA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Columbia University in the City of New York | Griffin Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a medical assistant and a registered medical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Medical Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 24% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between medical assistants' and registered medical assistants' demographics:
| Medical Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 10.4% Female, 89.6% | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 25.7% Asian, 8.8% White, 49.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | 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% |