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The differences between medical transcriptionists and registered medical assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a medical transcriptionist has an average salary of $38,725, which is higher than the $36,580 average annual salary of a registered medical assistant.
The top three skills for a medical transcriptionist include transcription, dictation and discharge summaries. The most important skills for a registered medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and office procedures.
| Medical Transcriptionist | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $38,725 | $36,580 |
| Hourly rate | $18.62 | $17.59 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 78,292 | 183,988 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 41 | 37 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
A Medical Transcriptionist is responsible for accurately transcribing audio records from Physicians and other health workers as part of a patient's medical history or other necessary documentation. Most of the time, a Medical Transcriptionist must sign non-disclosure agreements as the majority of the information relayed are personal and confidential. Furthermore, they must be meticulous in detecting inconsistencies and errors, translating or converting the information gathered into various medical documents, performing edits and revision, and following up any missing detail.
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 transcriptionists and registered medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Medical Transcriptionist | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $38,725 | $36,580 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $47,000 | Between $26,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | White Plains Hospital | Griffin Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a medical transcriptionist and a registered medical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Medical Transcriptionist | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 35% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Health Care Administration | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between medical transcriptionists' and registered medical assistants' demographics:
| Medical Transcriptionist | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average age | 41 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 6.3% Female, 93.7% | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 14.5% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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 | 9% | 6% |