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Medical internship vs medical specialist

The differences between medical interns 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 internship and a medical specialist. Additionally, a medical internship has an average salary of $50,843, which is higher than the $40,277 average annual salary of a medical specialist.

The top three skills for a medical internship include patients, patient care and vital signs. The most important skills for a medical specialist are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Medical internship vs medical specialist overview

Medical InternshipMedical Specialist
Yearly salary$50,843$40,277
Hourly rate$24.44$19.36
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs127,69268,607
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a medical internship do?

When it comes to a medical internship, one of the primary duties is to attend to the patients' needs while under a more experienced physician's supervision. During this period, the medical interns must rotate in various fields of specialties or departments for exposure. Aside from learning and observing, there are also instances when medical interns are required to produce necessary reports and documentation, communicate with patients and families, and take part in more challenging cases.

What does a medical specialist do?

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 internship vs medical specialist salary

Medical interns and medical specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical InternshipMedical Specialist
Average salary$50,843$40,277
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $77,000Between $21,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MABoston, MA
Highest paying stateNew YorkMassachusetts
Best paying companyTakeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.Adobe
Best paying industry--

Differences between medical internship and medical specialist education

There are a few differences between a medical internship and a medical specialist in terms of educational background:

Medical InternshipMedical Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationNursing
Most common college--

Medical internship vs medical specialist demographics

Here are the differences between medical interns' and medical specialists' demographics:

Medical InternshipMedical Specialist
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 24.9% Female, 75.1%Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.2% Asian, 9.7% White, 50.2% 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 Percentage6%6%

Differences between medical internship and medical specialist duties and responsibilities

Medical internship example responsibilities.

  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Room patients, vitals, schedule, injections, clia waive tests, womb care ,
  • Learned how to triage patients and make sure they are ready for the doctor to see.
  • Organize and fill patient medical records, telephone triage, schedule appointments, and provide patient education.
  • Organize, prep, and assist patients in putting on heart monitors for EKG and heart rate readings in the lab.
  • Assist physicians in taking blood pressure, EKG, ultrasound, measuring heart beat and recording all vitals in physical examinations.
  • Show more

Medical specialist example responsibilities.

  • Administer first aid, medication, emergency medical treatment, CPR, triage, and evacuation procedures.
  • Provide tactical medical instruction and services in emergency medical care of patients in austere and complex, out-of-hospital environments.
  • Provide mass casualty triage support, including administering emergency treatment, stabilizing patients, and routing them to appropriate medical facilities.
  • Provide wound care, sutures, injections, and CPR as needed.
  • Take vitals, = collecting co-pays, appt scheduling, radiology scheduling, triage, etc.
  • Operate equipment such as: electrocardiograms (EKGs), external defibrillators, and bag-valve mask resuscitators in advance life-support environments.
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Medical internship vs medical specialist skills

Common medical internship skills
  • Patients, 34%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Vital Signs, 6%
  • Surgical Procedures, 4%
  • Surgery, 4%
  • EKG, 3%
Common medical specialist skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Utilization Management, 5%
  • Medical Management, 4%
  • Patient Education, 4%

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