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Surgical assistant vs physician assistant

The differences between surgical assistants and physician assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physician assistant has an average salary of $118,812, which is higher than the $52,170 average annual salary of a surgical assistant.

The top three skills for a surgical assistant include patients, surgical procedures and patient care. The most important skills for a physician assistant are patients, diagnostic tests, and surgery.

Surgical assistant vs physician assistant overview

Surgical AssistantPhysician Assistant
Yearly salary$52,170$118,812
Hourly rate$25.08$57.12
Growth rate8%28%
Number of jobs28,13839,752
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Average age4339
Years of experience--

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 physician assistant do?

The physician assistant, also known as "PA," is now considered a key player to any healthcare team. Physician assistants are health care professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians. They work on several areas of medicine, from primary care to emergency service and even psychiatry. Neither they are a doctor nor a physician, but their job profile showcases many of these responsibilities. More than as assistants to the doctors, they are also equipped to examine, diagnose, and develop treatment strategies for patients.

Surgical assistant vs physician assistant salary

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

Surgical AssistantPhysician Assistant
Average salary$52,170$118,812
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $76,000Between $70,000 And $201,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYBoston, MA
Highest paying stateHawaiiVermont
Best paying companyBaptist Health CareMarshall University
Best paying industryUtilitiesEducation

Differences between surgical assistant and physician assistant education

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

Surgical AssistantPhysician Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 46%
Most common majorNursingPhysician Assistant
Most common college-Duke University

Surgical assistant vs physician assistant demographics

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

Surgical AssistantPhysician Assistant
Average age4339
Gender ratioMale, 20.7% Female, 79.3%Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4%
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, 5.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.8% Asian, 11.2% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage10%12%

Differences between surgical assistant and physician 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

Physician assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage a variety of acute and chronic conditions especially asthma, allergies, injuries, and infectious diseases.
  • Manage chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, ASCVD, chronic back and joint pains, depression, and anxiety.
  • Manage patient surgical care throughout the continuum of care from pre-op, to discharge planning, including ambulatory and hospital in-patients.
  • Attain pertinent history & physicals for obstetrics and gynecological acute and preventative visits.
  • Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
  • Aid in the acute management of trauma patients including obtaining appropriate studies, suturing, and CPR.
  • Show more

Surgical assistant vs physician assistant skills

Common surgical assistant skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • Surgical Procedures, 12%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Vital Signs, 5%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Infection Control, 3%
Common physician assistant skills
  • Patients, 29%
  • Diagnostic Tests, 6%
  • Surgery, 5%
  • Primary Care, 5%
  • Urgent Care, 4%
  • CPR, 3%

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