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The differences between medical specialists and sports medicine specialists 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 specialist, becoming a sports medicine specialist takes usually requires 8-10 years. Additionally, a sports medicine specialist has an average salary of $76,238, which is higher than the $40,277 average annual salary of a medical specialist.
The top three skills for a medical specialist include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for a sports medicine specialist are patients, patient care, and role model.
| Medical Specialist | Sports Medicine Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $40,277 | $76,238 |
| Hourly rate | $19.36 | $36.65 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 7% |
| Number of jobs | 68,607 | 50,403 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 37 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 10 |
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.
A sports medicine specialist is a health care expert who specializes in diagnosing and treating injuries of athletes. Their responsibilities typically revolve around providing check-ups and consultations, conducting assessments and examinations, developing care and treatment plans, and providing insights to coaches when developing athletic training programs. They may also assist patients by answering inquiries and sharing care advice. A sports medicine specialist typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
Medical specialists and sports medicine specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Specialist | Sports Medicine Specialist | |
| Average salary | $40,277 | $76,238 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $75,000 | Between $29,000 And $199,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Evanston, IL |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Illinois |
| Best paying company | Adobe | UnityPoint Health |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a medical specialist and a sports medicine specialist in terms of educational background:
| Medical Specialist | Sports Medicine Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 40% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Kinesiology |
| Most common college | - | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between medical specialists' and sports medicine specialists' demographics:
| Medical Specialist | Sports Medicine Specialist | |
| Average age | 37 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% | Male, 59.5% Female, 40.5% |
| 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, 5.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 18.6% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 13% |