Medical office administrative assistant vs registered medical assistant

The differences between medical office administrative assistants and registered 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 office administrative assistant and a registered medical assistant. Additionally, a registered medical assistant has an average salary of $36,580, which is higher than the $33,856 average annual salary of a medical office administrative assistant.

The top three skills for a medical office administrative assistant include patients, CPT and patient care. The most important skills for a registered medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and office procedures.

Medical office administrative assistant vs registered medical assistant overview

	Medical Office Administrative Assistant	Registered Medical Assistant
Yearly salary	$33,856	$36,580
Hourly rate	$16.28	$17.59
Growth rate	16%	16%
Number of jobs	136,278	183,988
Job satisfaction	-	4
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 28%	Associate Degree, 34%
Average age	37	37
Years of experience	12	12

What does a medical office administrative assistant do?

Medical Office Administrative Assistants are responsible for providing administrative support to a medical facility. Their duties include documenting case histories through patient interviews, updating patient health records, scheduling appointments, processing insurance claims adhering to legal regulations, assisting patient paperwork, and managing receivables and payables accounts. They also attend to patient inquiries and assist nurses and doctors with test scheduling, supplies ordering, and medical examinations. Medical Office Administrative Assistants use medical software to process transactions and keep abreast with changes in insurance and medical legislation.

What does a registered medical assistant do?

The primary job of registered medical assistants is to perform clinical and administrative tasks in a healthcare setting. They offer support services to physicians, so the latter have plenty of time to care for patients. They carry out varied administrative, clerical, and clinical tasks that include taking vital signs, filing records, and scheduling patient appointments. Other responsibilities include discussing treatment procedures to patients, interacting with patients, and collecting laboratory specimens such as tissue and blood. Ideal characteristics to become a registered medical assistant include being compassionate, can work well with people, and adaptable.

Medical office administrative assistant vs registered medical assistant salary

Medical office administrative assistants and registered medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Office Administrative Assistant	Registered Medical Assistant
Average salary	$33,856	$36,580
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $41,000	Between $26,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	-	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	-	Massachusetts
Best paying company	-	Griffin Hospital
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between medical office administrative assistant and registered medical assistant education

There are a few differences between a medical office administrative assistant and a registered medical assistant in terms of educational background:

	Medical Office Administrative Assistant	Registered Medical Assistant
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 28%	Associate Degree, 34%
Most common major	Health Care Administration	Medical Assisting Services
Most common college	-	-

Medical office administrative assistant vs registered medical assistant demographics

Here are the differences between medical office administrative assistants' and registered medical assistants' demographics:

	Medical Office Administrative Assistant	Registered Medical Assistant
Average age	37	37
Gender ratio	Male, 10.6% Female, 89.4%	Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 9.3% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 8.7% White, 54.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between medical office administrative assistant and registered medical assistant duties and responsibilities

Medical office administrative assistant example responsibilities.

Create and maintain confidential patient files according to HIPAA regulations, and implement log books to automate patient records management.
Provide front and back office support for surgeons by administratively managing and monitoring patients.
Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
Prepare employee schedules, assist with patient triage, assist with cosmetic and medical procedures as needed.
Verify and process patient insurance coverage and handle tasks relate to insurance information of patients.
Recommend and/or initiate patient management in cases of acute distress with medications, laboratory orders and initiation of CPR when necessary.

Registered medical assistant example responsibilities.

Generate referral letters for physician, manage and sort medical documents within the EHR system, and assist with e-prescribing.
Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
Attain medical histories, explain treatment procedures to patients, prepare patients for examination, and assist during diagnostic examinations.
Front and back administrative duties, answering phones, scheduling appointments and compliance with HIPAA, CLIA, and OSHA regulations.
Conduct lab tests in the areas of hematology, coagulation, urinalysis and serology collections.
Run testing, calibration and controls of high complexity specialize in areas of chemistry and hematology.

Medical office administrative assistant vs registered medical assistant skills

Common medical office administrative assistant skills

Patients, 32%
CPT, 5%
Patient Care, 4%
Patient Appointments, 4%
Phone Calls, 4%
Insurance Verification, 4%

Common registered medical assistant skills

Patients, 18%
Vital Signs, 8%
Office Procedures, 5%
EKG, 4%
Customer Service, 4%
Exam Rooms, 4%

Medical Office Administrative Assistant vs. similar jobs

Medical Office Administrative Assistant related careers

Medical Office Administrative Assistant related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Support Industry
Medical Office Administrative Assistant
Medical Office Administrative Assistant vs Registered Medical Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare support jobs