What is the Average Salary for a Medical Assistant?

Wondering how much you can expect to earn as a medical assistant? We break down the average medical assistant salary by state, experience, and more.

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Job Description

A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional who supports the work of physicians and other health professionals. Their duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice. In small practices, Medical assistants usually do both administrative and clinical tasks. In larger practices, they may specialize in either clinical or administrative work. Clinical responsibilities include taking and recording patients’ vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, scheduling appointments, assisting with patient examinations and giving injections. Administrative duties include answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing patient medical records filling out insurance forms and coding patients’ insurance information. Medical Assistants must be able to perform both administrative and clinical tasks with speed and accuracy.

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate from a community college or trade school. Some states require graduated medical assistants to pass an exam to earn certification. Although not required, certification may give an applicant an advantage in the job market

Duties

A medical assistant is a person who supports the work of physicians and other health professionals, usually in a clinic setting. Medical assistants perform many routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners running smoothly. Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate, although some have completed formal medical assisting programs at the certificate or associate’s degree level. The median annual wage for medical assistants was $33,610 in May 2019, with the top 10 percent earning more than $46,180 and the bottom 10 percent earning less than $24,810.

Skills

One of the most important skills for a medical assistant is the ability to communicate effectively with patients. This involves being able to listen to patients, understand their concerns, and explain procedures and treatments in a way that is easy for patients to understand. Additionally, medical assistants need to be able to communicate effectively with other members of the healthcare team, such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

Education and Training

To become a medical assistant, you will need to complete an accredited training program. Medical assistant programs are available at community colleges, technical schools, and universities. Programs typically take between one and two years to complete and result in a certificate or diploma. Some programs also offer an associate’s degree in medical assisting.

Certification

One factor that can influence your medical assistant salary is whether you are certified. Certification for medical assistants is offered by several organizations, including the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the National Healthcare Association (NHA), and the American Medical Technologists (AMT). To become certified, you must pass an exam administered by one of these organizations. Once you are certified, you will need to renew your certification every few years by completing continuing education credits or re-taking the exam.

Salary

The average salary for a medical assistant is $33,610 per year. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on experience, location, and other factors.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for medical assistants is very good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the occupation will grow by 29 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due in large part to an aging population and the resulting demand for health care services. As baby boomers age, they will need more medical care, and demand for medical assistants is expected to increase in response.

States with the Highest Employment Level

As of 2016, the states with the highest employment level for medical assistants were California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania. The reason for this is likely due to the high number of healthcare facilities in these states. The states with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for medical assistants were Montana, Alaska, District of Columbia, Wyoming, and Vermont. This is likely due to the smaller population in these states.

Metropolitan Areas with the Highest Employment Level

There are many factors to consider when trying to determine what the average salary for a medical assistant may be. Location is one of the most important factors. Medical assistants in metropolitan areas tend to make more money than those who live in rural areas. The following is a list of the metropolitan areas with the highest employment level for medical assistants, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

-New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: $36,040
-Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: $33,770
-Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI: $32,950
-Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX: $31,560
-Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD will have an annual mean wage of $38440

Top Paying States

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for medical assistants was $33,610 in 2018, with the top 10% earning more than $48,400.

However, earnings vary significantly by state. Here are the five states where medical assistants earned the highest average salary in 2018:

Alaska: $44,090
California: $42,180
Connecticut: $41,790
Massachusetts: $41,230
New Jersey: $39,910