Medical office assistant vs unit secretary

The differences between medical office assistants and unit secretaries can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a medical office assistant, becoming a unit secretary takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a medical office assistant has an average salary of $33,025, which is higher than the $32,153 average annual salary of a unit secretary.

The top three skills for a medical office assistant include patients, patient care and vital signs. The most important skills for a unit secretary are patients, patient care, and medical terminology.

Medical office assistant vs unit secretary overview

	Medical Office Assistant	Unit Secretary
Yearly salary	$33,025	$32,153
Hourly rate	$15.88	$15.46
Growth rate	16%	-8%
Number of jobs	199,611	69,543
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 28%	Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Average age	37	49
Years of experience	12	2

What does a medical office assistant do?

A medical office assistant, or sometimes known as a medical administrative assistant, is an individual who performs administrative functions for a hospital or clinic. Medical office assistants are responsible for all office duties such as accounting, medical transcription, and filing insurance claims. They interview their patients about medical case history and critical information and must also compile their medical records. They must also possess knowledge in topics such as medical terminology and medical law and ethics.

What does a unit secretary do?

Unit secretaries are administrative workers in a medical facility, usually a hospital or a clinic. They are in charge of religious activities in the unit or department they are assigned to. They manage incoming and outgoing mail, phone calls, and even appointments. They handle filing and recording of the documents of the department. They also take minutes of meetings and ensure that action plans are followed through. Unit secretaries should be familiar with the individuals in the department. They should also be accustomed to the schedule of members of the unit. Unit secretaries should be organized, dedicated, and trustworthy.

Medical office assistant vs unit secretary salary

Medical office assistants and unit secretaries have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Office Assistant	Unit Secretary
Average salary	$33,025	$32,153
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $38,000	Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Washington, DC	Portland, ME
Highest paying state	Alaska	California
Best paying company	Erickson Senior Living	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between medical office assistant and unit secretary education

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

	Medical Office Assistant	Unit Secretary
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 28%	Bachelor's Degree, 30%
Most common major	Health Care Administration	Nursing
Most common college	-	-

Medical office assistant vs unit secretary demographics

Here are the differences between medical office assistants' and unit secretaries' demographics:

	Medical Office Assistant	Unit Secretary
Average age	37	49
Gender ratio	Male, 8.3% Female, 91.7%	Male, 10.6% Female, 89.4%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 9.0% White, 52.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	6%	9%

Differences between medical office assistant and unit secretary duties and responsibilities

Medical office assistant example responsibilities.

Experience with manage care, Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial carriers.
Communicate closely with patients to ensure they are managing their current medications properly, and maintain accurate, up-to-date medical records.
Conduct preliminary patient screenings by assessing vital signs, recording patient information, preparing patient rooms, and performing EKG tests.
Protect patients' rights by maintaining confidentiality of personal information follows policies and procedures including HIPAA regulations.
Perform medical office duties including checking vital signs, history gathering, phlebotomy, and assisting physician with medical/neurological procedures.
Implement a new EHR system; provide leadership and mentoring to staff and physician during transition.

Unit secretary example responsibilities.

Create and maintain confidential patient files; implement EHR systems to automate patient records management.
Manage Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
Manage the medical unit by supervising its activities, accurately transcribing physician orders, and prioritizing tasks.
Conduct 6 mass vaccination campaigns, manage protein-calorie malnutrition, coordinate epidemiological surveillance, and direct health facility rehabilitation
Assist patients with their daily routine, including feeding, cleanliness and basic needs.
Post anesthesia recovery care for ophthalmology, ENT and plastic surgery patients

Medical office assistant vs unit secretary skills

Common medical office assistant skills

Patients, 24%
Patient Care, 11%
Vital Signs, 7%
Customer Service, 5%
Medical Terminology, 4%
Phlebotomy, 4%

Common unit secretary skills

Patients, 25%
Patient Care, 13%
Medical Terminology, 10%
Customer Service, 7%
Patient Charts, 4%
Physician Orders, 4%

Medical Office Assistant vs. similar jobs

Medical Office Assistant related careers

Medical Office Assistant related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Healthcare Support Industry
Medical Office Assistant
Medical Office Assistant vs Unit Secretary

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare support jobs