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The differences between medical specialists 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 specialist and a registered medical assistant. Additionally, a medical specialist has an average salary of $40,277, which is higher than the $36,580 average annual salary of a registered medical assistant.
The top three skills for a medical specialist include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for a registered medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and office procedures.
| Medical Specialist | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $40,277 | $36,580 |
| Hourly rate | $19.36 | $17.59 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 68,607 | 183,988 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
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.
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 specialists and registered medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Specialist | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $40,277 | $36,580 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $75,000 | Between $26,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Adobe | Griffin Hospital |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a medical specialist and a registered medical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Medical Specialist | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between medical specialists' and registered medical assistants' demographics:
| Medical Specialist | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |