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Medical examiner vs clinical medical assistant

The differences between medical examiners and clinical 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 examiner and a clinical medical assistant. Additionally, a medical examiner has an average salary of $156,092, which is higher than the $37,052 average annual salary of a clinical medical assistant.

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

Medical examiner vs clinical medical assistant overview

Medical ExaminerClinical Medical Assistant
Yearly salary$156,092$37,052
Hourly rate$75.04$17.81
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs47,428233,464
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Associate Degree, 27%
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 medical assistant do?

A clinical medical assistant specializes in performing administrative and clinical tasks in a hospital or similar setting. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering a patient's information, medical history, test results, and other essential documentation, and updating patient medical records. Other tasks include reaching out to patients' families and guardians, assisting health workers with room preparation and patient care, and preparing medications and other treatments, all in adherence to a physician's directives. Furthermore, a clinical medical assistant may conduct inspections to ensure that the hospital complies with government regulations.

Medical examiner vs clinical medical assistant salary

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

Medical ExaminerClinical Medical Assistant
Average salary$156,092$37,052
Salary rangeBetween $78,000 And $308,000Between $29,000 And $46,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MAVancouver, WA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsCalifornia
Best paying companyBexar CountyBrigham and Women's Hospital
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between medical examiner and clinical medical assistant education

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

Medical ExaminerClinical Medical Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%Associate Degree, 27%
Most common majorNursingMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Medical examiner vs clinical medical assistant demographics

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

Medical ExaminerClinical Medical Assistant
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 33.0% Female, 67.0%Male, 10.8% Female, 89.2%
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, 23.3% Asian, 9.1% White, 51.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between medical examiner and clinical medical 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.
  • Show more

Clinical medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Obtain vital signs, calculate body mass indexes, administer intramuscular injections, administer venipuncture on patients using aseptic technique.
  • Treat patients and coworkers with dignity, respect and compassion.
  • Obtain EKG's and vitals along with medical history, family history, current medications and chief complaints.
  • Present data in a Powerpoint presentation in mentoring professor's classes.
  • Process super-bills for submission to CPR billing, and daily bank deposits.
  • Order new equipment and work with word, excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Show more

Medical examiner vs clinical medical 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 medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Patient Care, 12%
  • Vital Signs, 10%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Medical Assistants, 4%

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