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Surgeon vs surgeon's assistant

The differences between surgeons and surgeon's assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a surgeon and a surgeon's assistant. Additionally, a surgeon's assistant has an average salary of $367,957, which is higher than the $155,553 average annual salary of a surgeon.

The top three skills for a surgeon include patients, general surgery and healthcare. The most important skills for a surgeon's assistant are patients, ortho, and EMR.

Surgeon vs surgeon's assistant overview

SurgeonSurgeon's Assistant
Yearly salary$155,553$367,957
Hourly rate$74.79$176.90
Growth rate7%7%
Number of jobs37,9182,715
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age4949
Years of experience66

Surgeon vs surgeon's assistant salary

Surgeons and surgeon's assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

SurgeonSurgeon's Assistant
Average salary$155,553$367,957
Salary rangeBetween $85,000 And $284,000Between $189,000 And $715,000
Highest paying CityLewiston, MEMinneapolis, MN
Highest paying stateMaineMaine
Best paying companyMaineGeneral HealthBassett Healthcare Network
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between surgeon and surgeon's assistant education

There are a few differences between a surgeon and a surgeon's assistant in terms of educational background:

SurgeonSurgeon's Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorMedicineMedical Technician
Most common collegeDuke UniversityDuke University

Surgeon vs surgeon's assistant demographics

Here are the differences between surgeons' and surgeon's assistants' demographics:

SurgeonSurgeon's Assistant
Average age4949
Gender ratioMale, 51.2% Female, 48.8%Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 1.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% Asian, 12.7% White, 76.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between surgeon and surgeon's assistant duties and responsibilities

Surgeon example responsibilities.

  • Manage insurance authorization and hospital bookings for surgery.
  • Assist senior staff in dental treatment of several complex procedures including dental treatment of medically compromise patients.
  • Coordinate with patients and medical staff at civilian and military treatment facilities to schedule medical appointments and retrieve medical documentation.
  • Observe fracture plating, skin grafting, wind cleaning, amputation, and other Orthopaedic surgeries.

Surgeon's assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage insurance authorization and hospital bookings for surgery.
  • Perform in-office suturing and skin closures in the operating room.
  • Perform vital sign checks, glucose level assessments and EKG's.
  • Provide education to patients anticipating surgery, to reduce patient anxiety, and enhance surgical outcome.
  • Gather outpatients' background and provide companionship and emotional support for thoracic cancer patients and families.
  • Board-Certify dermatologist performing Mohs surgery, advance reconstruction, blepharoplasty, liposuction, cosmetic & medical dermatology.
  • Show more

Surgeon vs surgeon's assistant skills

Common surgeon skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • General Surgery, 12%
  • Healthcare, 12%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Mohs, 5%
  • Private Practice, 4%
Common surgeon's assistant skills
  • Patients, 19%
  • Ortho, 17%
  • EMR, 16%
  • General Surgery, 8%
  • Surgical Procedures, 7%
  • Direct Patient Care, 5%

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