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The differences between optometric 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 an optometric assistant and a medical assisting extern. Additionally, an optometric assistant has an average salary of $98,734, which is higher than the $35,737 average annual salary of a medical assisting extern.
The top three skills for an optometric assistant include patients, appointment scheduling and customer service. The most important skills for a medical assisting extern are patients, vital signs, and EKG.
| Optometric Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Yearly salary | $98,734 | $35,737 |
| Hourly rate | $47.47 | $17.18 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 142,550 | 81,077 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| 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 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.
Optometric assistants and medical assisting externs have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optometric Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Average salary | $98,734 | $35,737 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $147,000 | Between $26,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Baltimore, MD | - |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | - |
| Best paying company | QPS | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an optometric assistant and a medical assisting extern in terms of educational background:
| Optometric Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between optometric assistants' and medical assisting externs' demographics:
| Optometric Assistant | Medical Assisting Extern | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 9.6% Female, 90.4% | Male, 24.3% Female, 75.7% |
| 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, 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% |