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The differences between medical research assistants and medical assisting externs 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 research assistant and a medical assisting extern. Additionally, a medical research assistant has an average salary of $40,303, which is higher than the $35,737 average annual salary of a medical assisting extern.
The top three skills for a medical research assistant include patients, patient care and DR. The most important skills for a medical assisting extern are patients, vital signs, and EKG.
| Medical Research Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Yearly salary | $40,303 | $35,737 |
| Hourly rate | $19.38 | $17.18 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 125,533 | 81,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A medical research assistant is primarily in charge of performing support tasks in a laboratory or similar environment. Their responsibilities include gathering and organizing samples, preparing the laboratories and other facilities, compiling and managing data, updating databases, and conducting examinations and analysis, all while adhering to the laboratory's policies and regulations. They may also liaise with clients, answering inquiries as necessary. Furthermore, it is vital to maintain an active line with researchers, coordinating with them every step of the way to ensure an efficient workflow.
A medical assisting extern is responsible for supporting the medical team in ensuring that the patients are offered the best care services by providing treatments and medications. Medical assisting externs' duties include practicing their medical skills by shadowing on medical professionals' activities, assisting patients with their inquiries and concerns, facilitating medical procedures with the doctor's supervision, and learning to operate medical tools and equipment as needed. A medical assisting extern must have excellent knowledge in the health industry, as well as a fast-learner to be familiarized with the complexities of medical processes and procedures.
Medical research assistants and medical assisting externs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Research Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Average salary | $40,303 | $35,737 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $64,000 | Between $26,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Worcester, MA | - |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | - |
| Best paying company | Norton Rose Fulbright | - |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a medical research assistant and a medical assisting extern in terms of educational background:
| Medical Research Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between medical research assistants' and medical assisting externs' demographics:
| Medical Research Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 19.0% Female, 81.0% | Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.3% Asian, 9.7% White, 50.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.1% Asian, 9.6% White, 50.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |