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The differences between medical examiners 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 examiner and a medical specialist. Additionally, a medical examiner has an average salary of $156,092, which is higher than the $40,277 average annual salary of a medical specialist.
The top three skills for a medical examiner include EKG, medical history and vital signs. The most important skills for a medical specialist are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Medical Examiner | Medical Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $156,092 | $40,277 |
| Hourly rate | $75.04 | $19.36 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 47,428 | 68,607 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| 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 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 examiners and medical specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Examiner | Medical Specialist | |
| Average salary | $156,092 | $40,277 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $308,000 | Between $21,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Bexar County | Adobe |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a medical examiner and a medical specialist in terms of educational background:
| Medical Examiner | Medical Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between medical examiners' and medical specialists' demographics:
| Medical Examiner | Medical Specialist | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.0% Female, 67.0% | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% |
| 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, 11.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 9.0% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |