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Medical examiner vs clinical assistant

The differences between medical examiners and clinical 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 examiner and a clinical assistant. Additionally, a medical examiner has an average salary of $156,092, which is higher than the $30,215 average annual salary of a clinical assistant.

The top three skills for a medical examiner include EKG, medical history and vital signs. The most important skills for a clinical assistant are patients, customer service, and PET.

Medical examiner vs clinical assistant overview

Medical ExaminerClinical Assistant
Yearly salary$156,092$30,215
Hourly rate$75.04$14.53
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs47,428101,926
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a medical examiner do?

A medical examiner works with deceased bodies to determine the cause and time of death. They analyze available information, testify in court, act as an expert witness in various criminal and civil cases, and provide forensic evidence. They are generally only expected to investigate deaths that occur under suspicious circumstances, as not all deaths will require an autopsy.

What does a clinical assistant do?

A clinical assistant is responsible for assisting medical professionals with medical procedures and ensure a high level of patient care. Clinical assistants perform minor clinic procedures such as taking patients' temperature, sterilizing medical equipment, proper dumping of disposable items, responding to patients' inquiries and concerns, processing payments, arranging appointment schedules, and maintaining an organized record of patients' information, such as their medical history and health insurance records. A clinical assistant must strictly adhere to sanitary and hygienic procedures at all times to promote a safe and clean environment for the patients.

Medical examiner vs clinical assistant salary

Medical examiners and clinical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical ExaminerClinical Assistant
Average salary$156,092$30,215
Salary rangeBetween $78,000 And $308,000Between $13,000 And $66,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MABrockton, MA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsMassachusetts
Best paying companyBexar CountyColumbia University in the City of New York
Best paying industry-Pharmaceutical

Differences between medical examiner and clinical assistant education

There are a few differences between a medical examiner and a clinical assistant in terms of educational background:

Medical ExaminerClinical Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorNursingPsychology
Most common college--

Medical examiner vs clinical assistant demographics

Here are the differences between medical examiners' and clinical assistants' demographics:

Medical ExaminerClinical Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 33.0% Female, 67.0%Male, 18.4% Female, 81.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.7% Asian, 9.3% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between medical examiner and clinical assistant duties and responsibilities

Medical examiner example responsibilities.

  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Perform medical exams such as EKG's, blood work, vitals and review medical history and paperwork with patients.
  • Assist in DNA case file management.
  • Train in phlebotomy and OSHA/HIPPA regulatory compliance procedures.
  • Perform independent thesis research to compare paraffin embed healthy and malignant tissue using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA testing.
  • Audit income and financial resources of elderly adults and disable applicants to determine financial eligibility for various levels of Medicaid coverage.
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Clinical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Participate in multiple studies managing CTM activities for various therapeutic areas simultaneously including oncology, urology, transplant, and immunology.
  • Interview patients and interpret EKG recordings transmit via telephone.
  • Maintain CPR certification on yearly basis and perform errands as per the instructions of supervisor.
  • Act as a paramedic including CPR, heart defibrillator, first aid, emergency care.
  • Schedule necessary test such as nerve conductions studies, bone scans, and MRI's.
  • Conduct mini-meetings with small groups of doctors to encourage them to take ownership of their EMR forms.
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Medical examiner vs clinical assistant skills

Common medical examiner skills
  • EKG, 16%
  • Medical History, 10%
  • Vital Signs, 8%
  • Blood Pressure, 7%
  • Medical Exams, 7%
  • Death Certificates, 6%
Common clinical assistant skills
  • Patients, 28%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • PET, 8%
  • Vital Signs, 6%
  • CPR, 3%
  • Phlebotomy, 3%

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