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The differences between registered medical assistants and medical office administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a registered medical assistant, becoming a medical office administrator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a registered medical assistant has an average salary of $36,580, which is higher than the $34,252 average annual salary of a medical office administrator.
The top three skills for a registered medical assistant include patients, vital signs and office procedures. The most important skills for a medical office administrator are patients, patient care, and customer service.
| Registered Medical Assistant | Medical Office Administrator | |
| Yearly salary | $36,580 | $34,252 |
| Hourly rate | $17.59 | $16.47 |
| Growth rate | 16% | -8% |
| Number of jobs | 183,988 | 179,503 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 37 | 49 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
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.
A medical office administrator is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties within a health care institution, supplying physicians and medical professionals with patients' information, and coordinating with insurance companies. Medical office administrators handle the information and data management system to ensure the accuracy of patients' details, medical history, and treatment plans. They also schedule doctor appointments and cancellations, as well as monitoring the inventory of medical supplies. A medical office administrator submits payment reports, respond to patients' inquiries and concerns, and process billing disputes.
Registered medical assistants and medical office administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Registered Medical Assistant | Medical Office Administrator | |
| Average salary | $36,580 | $34,252 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $49,000 | Between $27,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Anchorage, AK |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Griffin Hospital | University of California, Berkeley |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a registered medical assistant and a medical office administrator in terms of educational background:
| Registered Medical Assistant | Medical Office Administrator | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Health Care Administration |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between registered medical assistants' and medical office administrators' demographics:
| Registered Medical Assistant | Medical Office Administrator | |
| Average age | 37 | 49 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% | Male, 9.4% Female, 90.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 3.8% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 9% |