How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make an Hour?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for Medical assistants was $17.31 in May 2019.

Checkout this video:

Job Description

Medical assistants are an important part of the healthcare team. They perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of physicians and other medical professionals.

Medical assistants typically have an associate degree or certificate from a vocational school. Some states require certification for medical assistants.

The duties of medical assistants vary by state and by the size and type of medical practice. However, most medical assistants perform a combination of administrative and clinical tasks. Administrative tasks may include answering phones, scheduling appointments, maintaining records, and billing insurance companies. Clinical tasks may include taking medical histories, recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, and giving injections.

Duties

Medical assistants are responsible for a wide variety of duties in doctors’ offices and other healthcare facilities. They may perform administrative tasks, such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records and billing patients. They may also provide clinical support, such as taking medical histories and measuring patients’ vital signs. In some states, they may be allowed to perform more advanced procedures, such as giving injections or removing stitches.

How much does a medical assistant make an hour? Medical assistants typically earn an hourly wage of $15.00-$20.00. However, their exact wages will depend on their experience level, geographic location, and the type of employer they work for.

Salary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median hourly wage for medical assistants was $15.21 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.11, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $21.33.

Qualifications

The majority of medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate or diploma from a medical assisting program at a community college, technical school, or vocational school. Although not required, certification is becoming more common and may be an advantage in the job market. Certification shows that an individual has met certain standards of competency and can perform medical assisting tasks correctly. The Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants awards the Certified medical assistant credential to candidates who successfully complete an accredited medical assisting education program and pass a standardized exam.
##Heading: Duties
##Expansion:
Medical assistants perform many tasks, including measuring patients’ vital signs, recording their medical history, explaining treatment procedures to them, and administering medications. They may also collect samples for laboratory tests and perform basic laboratory procedures. Many medical assistants take X rays and remove sutures (stitches).

In addition to their clinical duties, medical assistants handle administrative tasks in doctors’ offices and clinics. They answer telephones, take messages, schedule appointments , greet patients , update and file patients’ Medical records fill out insurance forms , handle correspondence , schedule hospital admissions and laboratory services , bill patients , and collect payments . Many have responsibilities related to human resources such as processing employee payroll time sheets.

Certification

There are different types of medical assistants, each with their own set of responsibilities. The duties of a medical assistant may include administrative tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and billing patients. They may also be responsible for clinical tasks, such as taking medical histories, recording vital signs, and preparing patients for examination. In some states, medical assistants may perform certain types of diagnostic testing, such as administering EKGs or blood tests.

The median hourly wage for medical assistants was $16.05 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.71, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $24.00.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for medical assistants is excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of medical assistants will grow much faster than the average for all occupations between 2016 and 2026, by 29 percent. This is due in large part to an aging population and the expected expansion of health care services as a result. The median hourly wage for medical assistants was $15.61 in May 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Steps to Becoming a Medical Assistant

In order to become a medical assistant, you must first complete a accredited training program. These programs usually last around two years, and will provide you with the skills and knowledge necessary to perform the job effectively. Once you have completed a training program, you will then need to pass the certification exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Once you have passed this exam, you will be officially certified as a medical assistant, and will be able to begin seeking employment in this field.

Medical Assistant Programs

Medical Assistant Programs in the U.S.

Medical assisting is a growing field with plenty of opportunities for those who want to enter the healthcare field. One of the main reasons for this growth is that medical assistants can perform both administrative and clinical tasks, making them a valuable asset to any medical office.

Although most medical assistants have at least a high school diploma, many employers prefer to hire those who have completed an accredited medical assistant program. These programs typically last between one and two years and can be found at community colleges, technical schools, and even some four-year universities.

During their training, medical assistants will learn about topics such as anatomy, physiology, and Medical Terminology They will also develop important clinical skills such as taking patients’ vital signs and performing basic laboratory tests. In addition, many programs now offer courses in electronic health records (EHRs), which are becoming increasingly important in the healthcare field.

Once they have completed their training, medical assistants must pass a certification exam in order to become certified by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Although certification is not required in all states, it can give job seekers a competitive edge when applying for positions.

The median hourly wage for medical assistants was $15.21 in May 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also projects that employment of medical assistants will grow 23 percent from 2019 to 2029—much faster than the average for all occupations. With its combination of strong job growth and competitive pay, becoming a medical assistant is a great way to start your career in healthcare!

More Information

In order to fully understand how much a medical assistant make an hour, it is important to break it down by position and shift. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for medical assistants was $15.21 in May 2019. The top 10 percent of medical assistants made $19.73 or more per hour, while the bottom 10 percent earned $10.74 or less.

There are several different types of medical assistants, and each one has a different set of responsibilities. For example, certified medical assistants can perform more complex tasks than non-certified medical assistants. Here is a breakdown of median hourly wages for various types of medical assistants:

-Certified Medical Assistants: $17.00
-Non-certified Medical Assistants: $14.50
-Medical Assistants who specialize in administrative tasks: $15.00
-Medical Assistants who specialize in clinical tasks: $16.00

Related Careers

In addition to medical assistants, there are a number of other careers related to healthcare that you might be interested in pursuing. Some of these careers include:

-Registered nurses
– Licensed practical nurses
-Physical therapists
-Occupational therapists
-Speech therapists
-Medical secretaries