How Much Does a Medical Assistant in Pittsburgh, PA Make?

If you’re considering a career as a medical assistant in Pittsburgh, you might be wondering how much you can expect to earn. Here’s a look at the average salary for Medical assistants in Pittsburgh, PA, as well as the factors that can affect your earnings.

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Job Description

A medical assistant is an allied health professional that supports the work of physicians and other health professionals, usually in outpatient clinics. The medical assistant job description involves a wide variety of administrative and clinical tasks. Medical Assistants are often responsible for scheduling appointments, taking and recording medical histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting during the physical examination, drawing blood, removing sutures, and changing dressings. Many medical assistants also perform basic laboratory tests on-site, dispense medications, give injections, and performing diagnostic tests such as electrocardiograms (EKGs) or urinalysis.

In addition to these duties, medical assistants may also be responsible for providing patient education materials, handling billing and insurance paperwork, coding diagnoses and procedures for insurance reimbursement purposes, scheduling hospital admissions and surgeries, arranging for laboratory services, and ordering medical supplies

Duties

Medical assistants perform a variety of duties to support the work of physicians and other health professionals. They may take medical histories and record vital signs, explain treatment procedures to patients, prepare patients for examination, authorize insurance forms, and schedule appointments. In small offices, medical assistants may also be responsible for billing and bookkeeping. Medical assistants typically work in physicians’ offices, clinics, outpatient care centers, and other healthcare facilities.

Salary

The median annual salary for medical assistants in Pittsburgh, PA is $32,490, as of May 2017. This is lower than the median salary for all medical assistants in the United States which is $33,610. However, salaries for medical assistants vary based on experience, education, certification, and other factors.

Education and Training

Education and Training
Medical assistants in Pittsburgh, PA typically have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some medical assistants complete an accredited certificate program, which can take up to 1 year to complete. Some accredited certificate programs combine classroom instruction with a period of on-the-job training. Completing an accredited medical assisting program is not required for employment, but it may improve job prospects.

Certification

Medical assistant certification in Pittsburgh, PA is not required to work in the state, but many employers prefer to hire certified medical assistants. Certification from one of the two main organizations for medical assistants, the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the National Healthcare Association (NHA), will demonstrate that an medical assistant has met certain standards and is qualified to perform the duties of a medical assistant. The AAMA offers the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential, while the NHA offers the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential. To become certified, medical assistants must pass an exam administered by either organization.

Advancement Opportunities

With experience, medical assistants may advance to supervisory positions, or they may move into other related occupations, such as physical therapy assistant or occupational therapy assistant. Some open their own medical assisting service businesses.

Job Outlook

CMA: The job outlook for CMAs is excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of medical assistants will grow 19% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the population continues to age, there will be an increase in demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by medical assistants.

Pros and Cons

There are many pros and cons to being a medical assistant in Pittsburgh, PA. Some of the pros include the ability to work in a variety of settings, the potential to earn a good salary, and the opportunity to help people. Some of the cons include the possibility of long hours, having to deal with difficult patients, and working in a fast-paced environment.

What to Expect

As of Nov 12, 2020, the average annual pay for a Medical Assistant in Pittsburgh is $33,837 an year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $16.26 an hour. This is the equivalent of $647/week or $2,815/month.

Pittsburgh, PA

The average Medical Assistant salary in Pittsburgh, PA is $34,849 as of September 26, 2019, but the salary range typically falls between $31,711 and $38,821.