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The differences between optometric assistants and student medical assistant-externships 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 student medical assistant-externship. Additionally, an optometric assistant has an average salary of $98,734, which is higher than the $35,588 average annual salary of a student medical assistant-externship.
The top three skills for an optometric assistant include patients, appointment scheduling and customer service. The most important skills for a student medical assistant-externship are patients, vital signs, and EKG.
| Optometric Assistant | Student Medical Assistant-Externship | |
| Yearly salary | $98,734 | $35,588 |
| Hourly rate | $47.47 | $17.11 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 142,550 | 178,362 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| 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.
Student Medical Assistant Externship is a broad term for catering students for short, reliable, and practical work experience. Once you graduate, you can get a chance to meet contacts that may be useful for your career. You can have a better chance to work in a clinic, hospital, and any medical platform after going through this kind of externship.
Optometric assistants and student medical assistant-externships have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optometric Assistant | Student Medical Assistant-Externship | |
| Average salary | $98,734 | $35,588 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $147,000 | Between $26,000 And $47,000 |
| 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 student medical assistant-externship in terms of educational background:
| Optometric Assistant | Student Medical Assistant-Externship | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between optometric assistants' and student medical assistant-externships' demographics:
| Optometric Assistant | Student Medical Assistant-Externship | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 9.6% Female, 90.4% | Male, 23.8% Female, 76.2% |
| 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, 12.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 9.4% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |