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The differences between public health assistants and registered medical assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a public health assistant and a registered medical assistant. Additionally, a public health assistant has an average salary of $38,433, which is higher than the $36,580 average annual salary of a registered medical assistant.
The top three skills for a public health assistant include NYC, school health and patients. The most important skills for a registered medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and office procedures.
| Public Health Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $38,433 | $36,580 |
| Hourly rate | $18.48 | $17.59 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 105,104 | 183,988 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
Public Health Assistants will require good communication, teamwork, initiative, interpersonal, problem-solving, and analytical skills for this career choice, as well as a strong work ethic and the ability to be flexible and adaptable. Applicants can expect a payout of around $34K per year in this career choice, which will also require a diploma or GED, plus a master's degree in public health, after which they will be required to improve individual and societal health by monitoring healthy lifestyles, as well as practice preventative measures for injuries and disease and controlling infectious diseases. Their health concerns range from small communities to the entire planet.
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.
Public health assistants and registered medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Public Health Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $38,433 | $36,580 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $54,000 | Between $26,000 And $49,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Emory Healthcare | Griffin Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a public health assistant and a registered medical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Public Health Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Public Health | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between public health assistants' and registered medical assistants' demographics:
| Public Health Assistant | Registered Medical Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 21.6% Female, 78.4% | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.1% Asian, 9.3% White, 50.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | 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 | 6% | 6% |