Medical Assistant Income: How Much Do They Make?
Contents
- How Much Do Medical assistants Make?
- What Factors Affect Medical Assistant Income?
- How Does Medical Assistant Income Compare to Other Healthcare Positions?
- What are the Highest-Paying Medical Assistant Positions?
- What are the Lowest-Paying Medical Assistant Positions?
- What are the Most Common Medical Assistant Positions?
- What are the Least Common Medical Assistant Positions?
- What are the Fastest-Growing Medical Assistant Positions?
- What are the Slowest-Growing Medical Assistant Positions?
- How Can Medical Assistants Increase Their Income?
Medical assistants play an important role in the healthcare industry, providing vital support to doctors and other medical professionals. But how much do they actually earn? In this blog post, we’ll take a look at medical assistant income and what factors can affect their earnings.
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How Much Do Medical assistants Make?
How much do medical assistants make? It depends on a number of factors, including their experience, education, and location.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for medical assistants was $34,800 in 2017. The top 10% earn an annual salary of $49,810 or more, while the bottom 10% earn an annual salary of $24,920 or less.
Salaries also vary by experience and education. Medical assistants with more experience can earn higher salaries than those with less experience. Medical assistants with higher levels of education can also earn higher salaries than those with less education.
Location also affects medical assistant salaries. Medical assistants in metropolitan areas typically earn higher salaries than those in non-metropolitan areas. This is due to the higher costs of living in metropolitan areas.
The BLS also reports that medical assistants in the following states earn the highest annual salaries: Alaska, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming.
What Factors Affect Medical Assistant Income?
There are a number of different factors that can affect how much medical assistants make. Perhaps the most important factor is experience. Generally, the more experience a medical assistant has, the higher their income will be. Another important factor is education. Medical assistants with more education and training will usually make more than those who do not have as much education. Finally, location can also affect medical assistant income. Medical assistants who work in urban areas typically make more than those who work in rural areas.
How Does Medical Assistant Income Compare to Other Healthcare Positions?
Medical assistant income varies based on experience, location, and duties performed. The median annual wage for medical assistants was $33,610 in May 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,560, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $46,680.
Compared to other healthcare support occupations, medical assistants had a higher median annual wage in May 2017. For example, the median annual wage for dental assistants was $36,940, while the median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $32,700.
Medical assistant income also varies by state. In May 2017, medical assistants in the District of Columbia had the highest median annual wage at $47,280. Other states with high median annual wages for medical assistants included Alaska ($43,590), Massachusetts ($41,580), and Connecticut ($40,880).
What are the Highest-Paying Medical Assistant Positions?
Medical assistants hold one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States with an employment increase of 29% from 2016 to 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median annual wage for medical assistants was $33,610 in 2017. However, like with most occupations, earnings vary by experience, geographic location, and shift worked. Here are some of the highest-paying medical assistant positions:
-Pediatric medical assistant: Pediatric medical assistants work in pediatrician’s offices and provide age-appropriate care to infants, children, and adolescents. They may also supervise other medical assistants and support staff. The median annual wage for pediatric medical assistants was $36,250 in 2017.
-Geriatric medical assistant: Geriatric medical assistants work in geriatrician’s offices and provide care to older adults. They may also coordinate care with other health care professionals and support staff. The median annual wage for geriatric medical assistants was $35,880 in 2017.
-Cardiology medical assistant: Cardiology medical assistants work in cardiologist’s offices and provide patient care before and after cardiology procedures and tests. They may also schedule appointments, maintain medical records and provide instructions to patients on post-procedure care. The median annual wage for cardiology medical assistants was $35,580 in 2017.
What are the Lowest-Paying Medical Assistant Positions?
The lowest-paying medical assistant positions are typically in support roles such as file clerks or medical transcriptionists These positions may require less training than higher-level positions, but they also pay significantly less. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for medical assistants was $28,860 in 2018. The lowest 10 percent of earners made less than $21,410, and the highest 10 percent made more than $41,570.
What are the Most Common Medical Assistant Positions?
There are a variety of medical assistant positions, each with its own set of responsibilities. The most common medical assistant positions include:
-Clinical medical assistants
-Administrative medical assistants
-Specialty medical assistants
Clinical medical assistants are responsible for providing direct patient care. This may include tasks such as taking vital signs, administering injections, and performing basic laboratory tests. Administrative medical assistants are responsible for handling the administrative tasks in a medical office. This may include tasks such as scheduling appointments, handling patient billing, and maintaining Medical records Specialty medical assistants are responsible for providing direct patient care in a specific area of medicine. This may include tasks such as processing X-rays, performing electrocardiograms, and assisting with surgeries.
What are the Least Common Medical Assistant Positions?
Income varies widely for medical assistants, depending on their position and experience. The least common medical assistant positions are usually the highest paying, while the most common positions are typically the lowest paying. The following is a list of the five least common medical assistant positions, along with their average annual salary:
– certified medical assistant: $33,000
– medical office manager: $37,000
– certified ophthalmic medical assistant: $38,000
– certified orthopedic medical assistant: $41,000
– certified podiatric medical assistant: $44,000
What are the Fastest-Growing Medical Assistant Positions?
In order to become a medical assistant, you will need to have completed a postsecondary education program and have earned your credential. Once you have done this, you will be able to work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, and more. Your duties as a medical assistant will vary depending on where you work, but they may include taking medical histories and vital signs, scheduling appointments, preparing patients for examination, assisting the physician during the exam, and more.
While the median annual salary for medical assistants was $33,610 in May 2018 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), your actual income will depend on factors such as your experience, education, certification, specialty, and geographic location. For example, the BLS reports that medical assistants who worked in physician’s offices had a median annual salary of $33,770 in 2018, while those who worked in hospitals had a median annual salary of $34180.
The fastest-growing medical assistant positions are those that are certified by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). According to the AAMA’s 2018 Medical Assistant Salary Survey Report, the median annual salary for certified medical assistants was $16.00 per hour in 2018, which is significantly higher than the median hourly wage for all occupations of $17.49.
What are the Slowest-Growing Medical Assistant Positions?
Though overall growth for medical assistants is strong, some positions are growing more slowly than others. The table below shows the five slowest-growing medical assistant positions, with data on national average salary and projected growth from 2018 to 2028.
Position National Average Salary Projected Growth from 2018-2028
Senior Medical Assistant $34,800 5%
Lead Medical Assistant $36,000 5%
Medical Assistant Supervisor $38,000 5%
Clinical Medical Assistant $33,000 6%
Registered Medical Assistant $33,000 6%
How Can Medical Assistants Increase Their Income?
As a medical assistant, there are several ways that you can increase your income. One way is to get certified. Certification is not required in all states, but it can give you a leg up on the competition and make you more attractive to employers.
another way to make more money as a medical assistant is to specialize. There are many different areas of specialization within the medical field, so you should research which one interests you the most and then get the training and experience needed to work in that area. For example, you could specialize in working with children, the elderly, or those with chronic illnesses.
You could also look into becoming a manager or supervisor at your place of employment. Or, if you have ambitions of opening your own medical practice one day, you could start by working as an independent contractor for other practices in your area.
Whatever route you decide to take to make more money as a medical assistant, remember that dedication and hard work will always be rewarded. With a little extra effort, you can reach your financial goals and enjoy a long and successful career in this growing field.