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The differences between pathologist assistants and medical specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a pathologist assistant and a medical specialist. Additionally, a pathologist assistant has an average salary of $50,079, which is higher than the $40,277 average annual salary of a medical specialist.
The top three skills for a pathologist assistant include ASCP, patients and PA. The most important skills for a medical specialist are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Pathologist Assistant | Medical Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,079 | $40,277 |
| Hourly rate | $24.08 | $19.36 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 62,900 | 68,607 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A pathologist assistant is responsible for helping pathologists in conducting laboratory investigations by studying human specimens and surgical biopsies for diagnosis and identify a person's cause of death. Pathologist assistants perform autopsy functions under the supervision of the pathologist, following the strict safety protocols and regulations. They must have excellent organizational skills, especially in operating various equipment to prevent potential hazards and disease contamination. A pathologist assistant creates a comprehensive report of findings for the pathologist's review before releasing the final records.
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.
Pathologist assistants and medical specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pathologist Assistant | Medical Specialist | |
| Average salary | $50,079 | $40,277 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $101,000 | Between $21,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Essentia Health | Adobe |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | - |
There are a few differences between a pathologist assistant and a medical specialist in terms of educational background:
| Pathologist Assistant | Medical Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Biology | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between pathologist assistants' and medical specialists' demographics:
| Pathologist Assistant | Medical Specialist | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 39.4% Female, 60.6% | Male, 42.6% Female, 57.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.6% Asian, 9.7% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |