What Pays More: Medical Assistant or CNA?

The medical field is a great career choice with many opportunities. But which position should you choose? Medical assistant or CNA? Let’s compare the two positions.

Checkout this video:

Job outlook for medical assistants and CNAs

The demand for both medical assistants and CNAs is expected to grow in the coming years. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts that employment for medical assistants will grow by 29 percent from 2016 to 2026, while employment for CNAs is predicted to grow by 11 percent during the same time period.

Salary comparison between medical assistants and CNAs

In the United States medical assistants earn a median annual salary of $33,610, which is lower than the median annual salary for all occupations of $37,690. However, medical assistants can earn a higher salary by working in certain industries and locations. The top-paying industries for medical assistants are outpatient care centers ($43,580), general hospitals ($41,760), and specialty hospitals ($40,970). The top-paying states for medical assistants are Alaska ($44,100), Massachusetts ($42,920), and California ($42,840).

CNAs earn a median annual salary of $28,540, which is also lower than the median annual salary for all occupations of $37,690. However, similar to medical assistants, CNAs can earn a higher salary by working in certain industries and locations. The top-paying industries for CNAs are speciality hospitals ($36,670), general medical and surgical hospitals($34,200), and nursing care facilities($33,780). The top-paying states for CNAs are Alaska ($37,090), Hawaii ($36,430), and Massachusetts($35,720).

Education and training requirements for medical assistants and CNAs

Medical assistants and CNAs (certified nurse assistants) both work in the healthcare industry, but their duties and responsibilities are quite different. Medical assistants typically have less educational training than CNAs, but they also tend to earn a higher salary. Here’s a comparison of the education and training requirements for medical assistants and CNAs.

Medical assistants:
Most medical assistants have completed a postsecondary medical assisting program, which typically takes one to two years to complete. These programs are offered by community colleges, technical schools, and vocational schools. Some states require medical assistants to be certified, but this is not always the case.

CNAs:
CNAs must complete an accredited nursing program, which typically takes one to two years to complete. These programs are offered by community colleges, technical schools, and vocational schools. All states require CNAs to be licensed or certified.

Skills needed for medical assistants and CNAs

While both medical assistants and CNAs provide important care to patients, there are some key differences between the two roles. Medical assistants generally have more formal training than CNAs, and they often perform more clinical tasks such as taking patient histories and measuring vital signs. CNAs, on the other hand, usually provide more hands-on care such as bathing and dressing patients. CNAs may also have more interaction with patients than medical assistants, as they often provide emotional support to patients and their families.

So what pays more: medical assistant or CNA? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for medical assistants is $33,610, while the median annual salary for CNAs is $28,530. However, salaries can vary widely depending on experience, location, and employer. For instance, medical assistants in large metropolitan areas may earn significantly more than CNAs in rural areas. Ultimately, both medical assistants and CNAs play an important role in providing quality patient care, and both occupations offer rewarding career opportunities.

Work environment for medical assistants and CNAs

It’s not uncommon for medical assistants (MAs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to work side-by-side in hospitals and clinics. They may even perform some of the same duties. However, there are also key differences in their scope of practice, training, and work environment.

MAs are trained to perform both clinical and administrative tasks while CNAs are only responsible for basic patient care tasks. MAs typically work in doctors’ offices, outpatient clinics, or hospitals. CNAs typically work in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

Both MAs and CNAs may be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays. However, MAs usually have more flexible hours than CNAs since they often work in doctor’s offices that are open during regular business hours. CNAs often have to work shifts that are longer than eight hours.

Maysa

Pros and cons of being a medical assistant or CNA

There are pros and cons to both medical assisting and CNA positions. It really depends on what you are looking for in a job, and what your priorities are.

Medical assistants generally have a higher pay scale than CNAs, but they also have more responsibilities. Medical assistants may be required to take vital signs, give injections, prepare patients for exams, and perform other clinical duties. They also typically have more contact with patients than CNAs do.

CNAs generally have less responsibility than medical assistants, but they may have more contact with patients. CNAs provide basic care for patients, including bathing, dressing, and feeding them. They also help patients move around and provide emotional support.

What medical assistants and CNAs do

Medical assistants work in physicians’ offices and other outpatient care facilities, performing clerical and clinical tasks. Clinical duties may include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting the physician during the exam, and performing basic laboratory tests. Clerical duties may include answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing patients’ medical records handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, handling billing and insurance claims, and coding Medical records for reimbursement purposes.

CNAs provide basic patient care under the supervision of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs). Duties include bathing, dressing, grooming, feeding, moving patients in bed, turning them to prevent bedsores , checking vital signs such as pulse rate , respiration , blood pressure , temperature , urinary output; measuring intake and output when ordered; collecting specimens such as urine or stool samples; cleaning equipment; stocking supplies; taking inventory; preparing beds; providing skin care ; providing emotional support ; answering call lights ; communicating with families. Taking temperatures , documenting facts in charts , transcribing physician’s orders. They also help to bathe patients that are unable to do so on their own.

Job satisfaction for medical assistants and CNAs

The job market for medical assistants and CNAs is growing at a much faster rate than the national average, making both positions attractive options for those looking to enter the healthcare field. But which position is right for you?

Medical assistants generally have more responsibilities than CNAs, including performing administrative tasks and handling patient medical records They may also be responsible for scheduling appointments and ordering supplies. CNAs, on the other hand, provide basic patient care, such as bathing and feeding patients, as well as taking vital signs.

Both medical assistants and CNAs can find job satisfaction in helping others and making a difference in the lives of patients. However, medical assistants may have more opportunities to advance their careers than CNAs, since they have more transferable skills. Medical assistants who complete certification can also become certified medical billing and coding specialists or pursue other roles in healthcare administration.

Advancement opportunities for medical assistants and CNAs

Medical assistants and CNAs both provide care and support to patients in healthcare settings. However, there are some key differences between these two roles. Medical assistants typically have more formal training and may perform more complex tasks, such as taking medical histories and administering injections. CNAs, on the other hand, provide basic hands-on care, such as bathing and feeding patients.

Advancement opportunities may also differ for medical assistants and CNAs. Medical assistants may be able to move into management roles, or pursue further education to become a registered nurse. CNAs may be able to advance to higher-level positions within their field, such as a supervisor role. Ultimately, both medical assistants and CNAs can find fulfillment in helping others and making a difference in the healthcare field.

Why you should (or shouldn’t) become a medical assistant or CNA

There are many reasons to enter the medical field, whether it’s to help people or for the potential salary. But what if you’re undecided between two common medical positions: medical assistant vs. CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant)? Here we compare these roles in terms of pay, duties, and more to help you make a decision.

Medical assistants make a median annual salary of $33,610, while CNAs make a median annual salary of $28,540.* Both medical assistants and CNAs can find themselves working in hospitals, doctor’s offices, or long-term care facilities.

Duties for medical assistants can vary depending on state law and the size and type of facility they work in, but they typically include taking patient vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, updating Electronic Health Records (EHRs), scheduling appointments, handling billing and insurance paperwork, drawing blood, administering medications as directed by a physician, performing basic laboratory tests, and providing instruction to patients on health maintenance.**

CNAs typically provide basic patient care under the supervision of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs). This can include bathing and dressing patients; taking vital signs; moving patients; giving nutritional support; providing emotional support; checking incontinence pads; cleaning wheelchairs and bed rails; turning or repositioning bedridden patients; collecting urine samples; transporting patients; setting up mental health and physical therapy services; providing hospice care; providing postmortem care; performing CPR; adhering to infection control protocol; answering call lights promptly; documenting changes in patient condition accurately and completely.***

Generally speaking, medical assistants have more responsibilities than CNAs do. They also require more formal education—mostmedical assistants have at least an Associate’s degree from an accredited program whereas CNAs only need to complete a short certification program that can last anywhere from several weeks to several months. However, this doesn’t mean that becoming a CNA is a bad choice—many people enjoy the work and find it personally rewarding. The important thing is that you choose the path that’s right for you.

* https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-6
* https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-5
* https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/nursing-assistants.htm