Unit secretary vs medical office administrator

The differences between unit secretaries and medical office administrators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a unit secretary and a medical office administrator. Additionally, a medical office administrator has an average salary of $34,252, which is higher than the $32,153 average annual salary of a unit secretary.

The top three skills for a unit secretary include patients, patient care and medical terminology. The most important skills for a medical office administrator are patients, patient care, and customer service.

Unit secretary vs medical office administrator overview

	Unit Secretary	Medical Office Administrator
Yearly salary	$32,153	$34,252
Hourly rate	$15.46	$16.47
Growth rate	-8%	-8%
Number of jobs	69,543	179,503
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Average age	49	49
Years of experience	2	2

What does a unit secretary do?

Unit secretaries are administrative workers in a medical facility, usually a hospital or a clinic. They are in charge of religious activities in the unit or department they are assigned to. They manage incoming and outgoing mail, phone calls, and even appointments. They handle filing and recording of the documents of the department. They also take minutes of meetings and ensure that action plans are followed through. Unit secretaries should be familiar with the individuals in the department. They should also be accustomed to the schedule of members of the unit. Unit secretaries should be organized, dedicated, and trustworthy.

What does a medical office administrator do?

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.

Unit secretary vs medical office administrator salary

Unit secretaries and medical office administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Unit Secretary	Medical Office Administrator
Average salary	$32,153	$34,252
Salary range	Between $25,000 And $40,000	Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying City	Portland, ME	Anchorage, AK
Highest paying state	California	Alaska
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	University of California, Berkeley
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between unit secretary and medical office administrator education

There are a few differences between a unit secretary and a medical office administrator in terms of educational background:

	Unit Secretary	Medical Office Administrator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 31%
Most common major	Nursing	Health Care Administration
Most common college	-	-

Unit secretary vs medical office administrator demographics

Here are the differences between unit secretaries' and medical office administrators' demographics:

	Unit Secretary	Medical Office Administrator
Average age	49	49
Gender ratio	Male, 10.6% Female, 89.4%	Male, 9.4% Female, 90.6%
Race ratio	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%	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	9%	9%

Differences between unit secretary and medical office administrator duties and responsibilities

Unit secretary example responsibilities.

Create and maintain confidential patient files; implement EHR systems to automate patient records management.
Manage Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
Manage the medical unit by supervising its activities, accurately transcribing physician orders, and prioritizing tasks.
Conduct 6 mass vaccination campaigns, manage protein-calorie malnutrition, coordinate epidemiological surveillance, and direct health facility rehabilitation
Assist patients with their daily routine, including feeding, cleanliness and basic needs.
Post anesthesia recovery care for ophthalmology, ENT and plastic surgery patients

Medical office administrator example responsibilities.

Re-Evaluat & improve policy manual, develop standards for HIPPA, OSHA, manage care, billing and medical compliance.
Facilitate client relationships and manage surgery schedules, financial consultations, follow up care and ongoing maintenance.
Used knowledge of medical procedures and customer service, record medical histories and schedule patients for hospitalization and other procedures.
Scan new information such as daily progress notes, physical exams, labs and diagnostic testing into EMR.
Advise and counsel patient regarding food, fluid, medicine intake and restrictions prior to surgery including drop regime.
Organize patient charts and loose reports, as well as paper work from daily operations for scanning into EMR system.

Unit secretary vs medical office administrator skills

Common unit secretary skills

Patients, 25%
Patient Care, 13%
Medical Terminology, 10%
Customer Service, 7%
Patient Charts, 4%
Physician Orders, 4%

Common medical office administrator skills

Patients, 21%
Patient Care, 10%
Customer Service, 8%
Insurance Verification, 5%
Phone Calls, 5%
Appointment Scheduling, 4%

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Unit Secretary
Unit Secretary vs Medical Office Administrator

Updated January 8, 2025

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