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Surgical assistant vs medical assistant

The differences between surgical assistants and medical assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a surgical assistant has an average salary of $52,170, which is higher than the $34,900 average annual salary of a medical assistant.

The top three skills for a surgical assistant include patients, surgical procedures and patient care. The most important skills for a medical assistant are patients, vital signs, and patient care.

Surgical assistant vs medical assistant overview

Surgical AssistantMedical Assistant
Yearly salary$52,170$34,900
Hourly rate$25.08$16.78
Growth rate8%16%
Number of jobs28,138189,915
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Associate Degree, 24%
Average age4337
Years of experience-12

What does a surgical assistant do?

A Surgical Assistant provides assistance during an operation by performing a wide range of crucial tasks. They cover patients with surgical drapes to create and maintain a sterile operative field and adjust and maintain operating room parameters according to the surgeon's specifications.

What does a medical assistant do?

Medical assistants provide support to medical practitioners in both administrative and clerical tasks. They keep and update the patient's medical records, administer medicines under the supervision of a physician, assist during medical examinations, prepare medical samples for laboratory testing, manage the schedule of appointments, and assist the patients with their bills and in filling out needed forms, such as insurance-related documents. Medical assistants should have good communication skills and analytical skills, be organized, and be flexible. They should also have knowledge of how to operate some medical equipment such as x-ray machines.

Surgical assistant vs medical assistant salary

Surgical assistants and medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Surgical AssistantMedical Assistant
Average salary$52,170$34,900
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $76,000Between $27,000 And $43,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYVancouver, WA
Highest paying stateHawaiiAlaska
Best paying companyBaptist Health CareColumbia University in the City of New York
Best paying industryUtilitiesHealth Care

Differences between surgical assistant and medical assistant education

There are a few differences between a surgical assistant and a medical assistant in terms of educational background:

Surgical AssistantMedical Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Associate Degree, 24%
Most common majorNursingMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Surgical assistant vs medical assistant demographics

Here are the differences between surgical assistants' and medical assistants' demographics:

Surgical AssistantMedical Assistant
Average age4337
Gender ratioMale, 20.7% Female, 79.3%Male, 10.4% Female, 89.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 9.1% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 25.7% Asian, 8.8% White, 49.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage10%6%

Differences between surgical assistant and medical assistant duties and responsibilities

Surgical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage medical records and document examination notes, prescriptions, and procedure details in EMR.
  • Manage surgical scheduling, cataract evaluations, ultrasounds, keratometry, IOL selection, and preoperative exam for surgery.
  • Prepare patients for examination by taking their vitals, and performing EKG when need.
  • Assist with all dental procedures, order all supplies, maintain equipment and OSHA handbook.
  • Assist surgeons in surgical procedures making incisions, manipulating tissues and organs, cauterizing, suturing and dressing wounds.
  • Interview patients, review patient medical history, gather and educate patients on their medications.
  • Show more

Medical assistant example responsibilities.

  • Create and maintain confidential patient files; implement EHR systems to automate patient records management for the purposes of meaningful use.
  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Participate in emergency surgical intervention in obstetrics and gynecology patients.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in taking patient history and vitals, venipuncture, injections, urinalysis and preparing examination trays.
  • Attend to new out patients in gynecology clinic, make clinical diagnosis and follow up.
  • Provide RMA support to physician, and patients, including but not limit to vitals and patient history.
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Surgical assistant vs medical assistant skills

Common surgical assistant skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Surgical Procedures, 12%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Infection Control, 3%
Common medical assistant skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Vital Signs, 10%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Phlebotomy, 4%
  • CPR, 4%
  • EKG, 4%

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