How Much Does a Medical Support Assistant Make?
Contents
- What is a medical support assistant?
- What are the duties of a medical support assistant?
- What are the skills required to be a medical support assistant?
- What are the educational requirements to be a medical support assistant?
- What is the job outlook for medical support assistants?
- What are the average salaries for medical support assistants?
- What are the top paying industries for medical support assistants?
- What are the top paying states for medical support assistants?
- What are the top paying cities for medical support assistants?
- How can I become a medical support assistant?
If you’re thinking about becoming a medical support assistant, you might be wondering how much you can expect to earn. Here’s a look at what medical support assistants make, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Checkout this video:
What is a medical support assistant?
A medical support assistant is a person who provides administrative and clerical support to a healthcare facility. Their duties may include answering phones, scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records and billing patients. Medical support assistants must have knowledge of Medical Terminology and be able to type accurately. They usually work in a healthcare office or clinic setting.
What are the duties of a medical support assistant?
Medical support assistants (MSAs) are health care professionals who provide support to doctors and other medical staff in hospitals, clinics, and private practices. They perform a variety of administrative and clerical tasks, such as scheduling appointments, maintaining Medical records billing patients, and assisting with insurance claims. MSAs typically have an associate’s degree or certificate in medical office administration. Some states also require certification from the American Medical Technologists (AMT).
What are the skills required to be a medical support assistant?
In order to be a medical support assistant, one must have excellent customer service skills. They should be able to maintain a high degree of professionalism when interacting with patients. They must also have strong organizational skills in order to keep the medical office running smoothly. Furthermore, medical support assistants should have basic medical knowledge in order to transcriptionist doctors’ notes and answer patient’s questions accurately. Lastly, they need to be proficient in using various computer applications such as Microsoft Office in order to perform their duties effectively.
What are the educational requirements to be a medical support assistant?
Education requirements for medical support assistants vary by employer, but most positions will require at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers may prefer candidates with some postsecondary education, such as an associate’s degree in medical office administration or a related field. Candidates with previous experience working in a medical office or healthcare setting may also have an advantage in the job market.
What is the job outlook for medical support assistants?
The job outlook for medical support assistants is very good. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for these professionals is expected to grow by 23% between 2016 and 2026. This is much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. The aging population and the increasing numbers of people with chronic health conditions will continue to drive the need for qualified medical support assistants.
What are the average salaries for medical support assistants?
The average medical support assistant salary is about $33,000 per year. MSA salaries can range from $28,000 to $38,000 depending on experience and location. Some factors that affect MSAs’ salaries are the type of medical facility they work in, the size of the facility, the region of the country, and whether they are unionized.
What are the top paying industries for medical support assistants?
The medical support assistant occupation is expected to grow by 23% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for medical support assistants was $34,610 in May 2019.
There is a great deal of variation in pay for medical support assistants. The industries that employ the most medical support assistants are as follows:
-Offices of Physicians: $35,430
-General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $34,370
-Outpatient Care Centers: $33,720
-Offices of Other Health Practitioners: $32,940
What are the top paying states for medical support assistants?
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not report salary data specifically for medical support assistants, it does provide information for the broader occupational category of medical secretaries and administrative assistants. Based on this data, the states with the highest average salary for medical secretaries and administrative assistants as of May 2019 were as follows:
-Rhode Island ($61,410)
-Connecticut ($49,840)
-California ($48,200)
-Massachusetts ($46,280)
-New Jersey ($44,830)
The BLS also reports that the metropolitan areas with the highest average salary for medical secretaries and administrative assistants as of May 2019 were as follows:
–San Francisco Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division ($55,490)
-Napa, CA ($54,090)
-Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area ($52,780)
-Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division ($51,610)
-Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area ($50,430)
What are the top paying cities for medical support assistants?
Medical support assistants are responsible for a variety of clerical and administrative tasks in healthcare facilities. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or medical offices, and their duties can include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records billing patients, and handling insurance paperwork.
While medical support assistants are not required to have a formal education, many complete on-the-job training or postsecondary education programs to learn the necessary skills. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for medical support assistants was $33,610 in May 2019.
However, pay varies depending on a number of factors, including experience level, geographic location, and employer. The BLS reports that the top 10% of earners in this occupation made $46,290 or more per year as of May 2019, while the bottom 10% earned $24,540 or less per year.
Here is a look at salaries for medical support assistants in some of the top-paying cities for this occupation:
How can I become a medical support assistant?
Medical support assistants (MSAs) provide clerical support in medical offices. They typically work under the supervision of a medical office manager, doctor, or other Health Care professional. There are no formal education requirements to become an MSA, but most employers prefer to hire candidates who have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Many MSAs have completed postsecondary training programs that last anywhere from several months to a year. Some employers may also require MSAs to have certification from a professional organization, such as the National Healthcare Association.