Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between medical examiners and 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 medical assistant. Additionally, a medical examiner has an average salary of $156,092, which is higher than the $34,900 average annual salary of a medical assistant.
The top three skills for a medical examiner include EKG, medical history and vital signs. The most important skills for a medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and patient care.
| Medical Examiner | Medical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $156,092 | $34,900 |
| Hourly rate | $75.04 | $16.78 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 47,428 | 189,915 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 24% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
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.
Medical examiners and medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Examiner | Medical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $156,092 | $34,900 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $308,000 | Between $27,000 And $43,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Bexar County | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a medical examiner and a medical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Medical Examiner | Medical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 24% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between medical examiners' and medical assistants' demographics:
| Medical Examiner | Medical Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 10.4% Female, 89.6% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 25.7% Asian, 8.8% White, 49.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |