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The differences between optometric assistants and clinical assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an optometric assistant and a clinical assistant. Additionally, an optometric assistant has an average salary of $98,734, which is higher than the $30,215 average annual salary of a clinical assistant.
The top three skills for an optometric assistant include patients, appointment scheduling and customer service. The most important skills for a clinical assistant are patients, customer service, and PET.
| Optometric Assistant | Clinical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $98,734 | $30,215 |
| Hourly rate | $47.47 | $14.53 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 142,550 | 101,926 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An optometric assistant performs a variety of support tasks to assist optometrists and maintain a smooth flow of operations at clinics. They typically greet clients and identify their eye and vision care needs, answer inquiries, gather patient histories and other information, prepare and assist the clients for vision tests, and administer eye drops. They may also perform clerical tasks such as processing documents, organizing files, handling calls and correspondence, liaising with external partners such as suppliers and vendors, and updating databases. Moreover, an optometric assistant may also adjust and repair glasses, all according to the clients' needs.
A clinical assistant is responsible for assisting medical professionals with medical procedures and ensure a high level of patient care. Clinical assistants perform minor clinic procedures such as taking patients' temperature, sterilizing medical equipment, proper dumping of disposable items, responding to patients' inquiries and concerns, processing payments, arranging appointment schedules, and maintaining an organized record of patients' information, such as their medical history and health insurance records. A clinical assistant must strictly adhere to sanitary and hygienic procedures at all times to promote a safe and clean environment for the patients.
Optometric assistants and clinical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optometric Assistant | Clinical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $98,734 | $30,215 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $147,000 | Between $13,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | Brockton, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | QPS | Columbia University in the City of New York |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical |
There are a few differences between an optometric assistant and a clinical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Optometric Assistant | Clinical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Business | Psychology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between optometric assistants' and clinical assistants' demographics:
| Optometric Assistant | Clinical Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 9.6% Female, 90.4% | Male, 18.4% Female, 81.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.0% Asian, 9.8% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.1% Asian, 8.9% White, 53.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |