Compare MAs to Other Healthcare Careers

• Overview
• Medical assistant vs. dental assistant
• Medical assistant vs. EMT
• Medical assistant vs. LPN
• Medical assistant vs. CNA
• Medical assistant vs. medical office administrator
• Medical assistant vs. patient care technician
• Medical assistant vs. pharmacy technician
• Medical assistant vs. phlebotomist
• Medical assistant vs. radiologic technologist
• Medical assistant vs. surgical technologist

MEDICAL ASSISTANT VS. SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIST: A COMPARISON

Medical assistants and surgical technologists are two entry-level roles that support the safe and efficient delivery of healthcare services. While both professions have minimal education requirements, they involve different skill sets in different sectors of healthcare. Medical assistants focus on clinical and administrative duties, while surgical technologists use a specialized set of technical skills related to surgery.

Deciding between these careers requires understanding the type of work each role requires and how their duties differ. Compare educational requirements, work environments and the potential for career growth to decide which path aligns most closely with your personal and professional goals.

Key differences between medical assistants and surgical technologists

Medical assistants provide general patient care support under the direction of a physician or other licensed healthcare provider. They need a versatile skill set to perform various clinical and administrative tasks. Medical assistants help physicians’ offices and other healthcare facilities run efficiently by balancing the needs of physicians and their patients.

Most patients interact with medical assistants at some point before, during and/or after their visit. Communication and the ability to relate to people of different socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds is important in this field. In a typical day, medical assistants work directly with patients to a greater extent than some professionals, such as nursing assistants, who work in hospitals, said Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, CEO and Legal Counsel of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Surgical technologists assist surgeons and other members of the medical team in the preoperative (before), intraoperative (during) and postoperative (after) surgical stages. They help maintain a safe, sterile and properly organized surgical environment.

The duties of a surgical technologist involve specialized skills that impact the success of surgical outcomes. However, their patient interaction is often limited to tasks that involve preparing patients for surgery and transferring them to recovery rooms.

Your state’s scope of practice and your workplace will determine the specific tasks you perform as a medical assistant or surgical technologist. Common responsibilities in these roles include:

Work environments

Physicians’ offices are the most common employers of medical assistants. They employ about 56% of professionals in this field, says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Many medical assistants also work in hospitals and outpatient care centers. In most cases, medical assistants follow regular business hours with occasional nights or weekends.

While medical assistants often work in places where patients are seen according to preset schedules, that doesn’t mean their days are routine. Any day can present stressful and intense situations based on the changing needs of physicians and patients.

According to BLS data, about 69% of surgical technologists work in hospitals. Many surgical technologists are also employed by physicians’ offices and outpatient care centers. Surgical technologists typically work in eight-hour shifts. However, they may have to work nights, weekends and/or holidays to accommodate the round-the-clock care provided in hospitals.

Working in the surgery department of a hospital can mean fast-paced and stressful days for surgical technologists. Assisting during surgery requires thinking on your feet and making decisions that can have life-and-death consequences, especially during complex procedures.

Educational requirements

Medical assistants and surgical technologists need a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency before starting their careers. Additional educational requirements vary by state. Your state board of health, medical board or other state agency that oversees these positions can provide current requirements.

Medical assistants may be able to learn the skills they need by completing an employer-sponsored educational program, though this pathway is less common. While most states don’t require a formal medical assistant education, more employers prefer or insist on this type of standardized instruction, said Balasa.

You can learn medical assisting skills in about nine months to a year by completing a certificate or diploma medical assisting program. Whether you learn online or in a classroom, you will likely have to complete in-person skills instruction. You can also earn a two-year associate degree from an accredited college with college credits that may be applicable toward another degree in the future.

Surgical technologists have similar educational options. Online and in-person diploma and certificate programs for surgical technologists require about 12 to 18 months of study. Associate degree programs from accredited colleges can provide transferrable college credits. All program formats require in-person clinical labs.

When evaluating educational options, look for a surgical technologist program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). These programs meet the educational criteria for state-required or optional professional certifications.

Licensure and certification

You won’t need a state license to perform general duties as a medical assistant in any state. However, some states require professional certification to perform advanced medical tasks such as drawing blood or administering injections.

Even though it’s not state-required, professional certification can be a worthwhile credential. It proves to employers that you have demonstrated your knowledge and skills against professional standards. Medical assistants who have professional certification also may be better prepared to compete for positions with little need for specialization. The medical assisting credentials can generally be applied across the whole spectrum of healthcare, said Balasa.

Having professional certification as a medical assistant is very common. About 78% of healthcare institutions surveyed require certification as a condition of employment for medical assistants, reported the National Healthcareer Association’s 2024 Industry Outlook. The most common medical assistant certifications include:

• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
• Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from American Medical Technologists (AMT)

Most states don’t regulate surgical technologists with requirements for licensure and/or professional certification, reports the Association of Surgical Technologists. When required, two standard professional certifications include:

• Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) through the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting (NBSTSA)
• Tech in Surgery–Certified (TS-C) through the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)

Salaries and occupational outlooks

The BLS projects an ongoing demand for medical assistants and surgical technologists. However, your options may be impacted by your location, experience, workplace culture, area of expertise and other factors unique to your situation.

According to the BLS, the annual median salary for medical assistants is $45,690. Outpatient care centers and hospitals award the highest salaries. The employment of medical assistants is expected to increase at an average rate of 12.5% through 2034. This is over three times faster than the average expected growth for all occupations.

According to the BLS, surgical technologists earn an annual median salary of $64,650. Working at an outpatient care center or hospital is where you’ll earn the highest salaries in this profession. Through 2034, the employment of surgical technologists is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.5% , which is slightly higher than the average growth projected for all occupations.

Opportunities for growth

Medical assistants and surgical technologists can build upon their entry-level education and experience to pursue specialized roles or positions with more responsibilities and higher salaries.

Medical assistants can specialize in areas of medicine, such as gerontology, pediatrics or internal medicine with general professional certifications. Specialized certifications for medical assistants include:

• Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA)
• Chiropractic Assistant Certification (CCA)
• Podiatric Medical Assistant Certification (PMAC)
• Specialty Certified Medical Assistant in Geriatrics (SCMA-G)

By pursuing additional education, medical assistants could progress to many professions such as healthcare administrator, phlebotomist, registered nurse or physician.

Surgical technologists require specialized skills to perform their general responsibilities. However, they can specialize in certain types of surgery that include:

• Cardiology
• Cosmetic surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Ophthalmology
• Organ transplantation
• Orthopedics

With additional education, a surgical technologist can progress to a surgical first assistant (a role that directly assists the surgeon), clinical coordinator, medical sales representative, nurse or surgeon.

Summing up

Choosing between these career paths depends on your strengths, interests and career goals. Medical assistants have a more diverse scope of practice and participate in all aspects of a patient’s experience. Surgical technologists have a more focused and defined role involving precise technical skills and less direct patient care.

Consider how each pathway can support your goals. Deciding whether medical assisting is the right option depends on whether your ultimate career objectives involve working in a front-office position or a clinical role in the future, said Balasa.