Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between registered medical assistants and registered dental assistants 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 registered dental assistant takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a registered dental assistant has an average salary of $38,145, which is higher than the $36,580 average annual salary of a registered medical assistant.
The top three skills for a registered medical assistant include patients, vital signs and office procedures. The most important skills for a registered dental assistant are patients, CPR, and RDA.
| Registered Medical Assistant | Registered Dental Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $36,580 | $38,145 |
| Hourly rate | $17.59 | $18.34 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 183,988 | 76,460 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Average age | 37 | 38 |
| 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 registered dental assistant is responsible for assisting dentists in conducting dental procedures, performing basic dental operations, as well as administrative duties. Registered dental assistants advise the patients on their medications and practices to avoid dental complications, including regular dental checkups and cleaning. They also keep dental records of a patient for reference, sterilize dental tools and equipment, manage the regular maintenance of machines, and check the adequacy of dental supplies. A registered dental assistant must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on updating information on the database, processing payments, and scheduling appointments.
Registered medical assistants and registered dental assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Registered Medical Assistant | Registered Dental Assistant | |
| Average salary | $36,580 | $38,145 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $49,000 | Between $28,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Arlington, MA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Minnesota |
| Best paying company | Griffin Hospital | Rady Children's Hospital And Health Center |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between a registered medical assistant and a registered dental assistant in terms of educational background:
| Registered Medical Assistant | Registered Dental Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between registered medical assistants' and registered dental assistants' demographics:
| Registered Medical Assistant | Registered Dental Assistant | |
| Average age | 37 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.2% Female, 91.8% | Male, 9.0% Female, 91.0% |
| 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, 6.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 31.6% Asian, 9.0% White, 47.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 4% |