How Much Does the Average Medical Assistant Make in Arizona?

How much does the average medical assistant make in Arizona? That’s a question that many people ask, and there is no simple answer. However, we can give you some general guidelines to help you figure out an estimate.

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Job Description

Medical assistants are unlicensed personnel who perform many routine tasks in a medical office, such as taking patient histories, recording vital statistics, scheduling appointments and performing basic laboratory tests. Many Medical Assistants take on additional responsibilities, such as insurance billing and coding,bookkeeping, transcribing dictated medical reports and handling correspondence. With additional training, medical assistants may give injections and remove sutures.

While most medical assistants have completed postsecondary training in an accredited program, some states allow persons with no formal education to perform certain routine tasks under the direct supervision of a licensed physician or other health care professional. Most states have no specific education or training requirements for medical assistants.

Education and Certification

Education and Certification:
Medical assistants in Arizona can earn their Certificate or Associate’s degree in as little as nine months.2 Although not required, certification may be beneficial when seeking employment. The Certified medical assistant (CMA) credential is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), and the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential is administered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). Holders of either credential must complete continuing education requirements every five years to maintain their certification.

Salary

Salary for medical assistants in Arizona vary based on experience, education, and employer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for medical assistants in Arizona was $33,610 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,920, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $45,560.

Wages for medical assistants in different parts of Arizona vary based on geographic location. The BLS reports that the Yuma metropolitan area had the highest concentration of jobs and the highest wages for medical assistants in May 2019. Medical assistants in this area earned a median annual wage of $39,040.

Job Outlook

Medical assistants in Arizona earn an average of $17.10 per hour, or $35,640 per year.* This is higher than the average hourly wage for all occupations in the state, which is $15.48.**

The highest earners in Arizona work in Phoenix, where the average hourly wage is $17.74, or $36,880 per year.***The lowest earners work in Tucson, where the average hourly wage is $16.13, or $33,560 per year.****

The job outlook for medical assistants in Arizona is positive. The state is projected to add 4,700 new jobs for medical assistants between 2016 and 2026, an increase of 29%.***** This is faster than the projected growth rate for all occupations in the state, which is 24%.

Pros and Cons

Working as a medical assistant has a lot of pros. For one, it’s a rapidly growing field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of medical assistants will grow by 29 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. That’s nearly 185,000 new jobs!

Top Employers

There are many different employers of medical assistants in Arizona. Some of the top employers include Banner Health, mayo clinic Dignity Health, and Abrazo Health Care. These employers often offer competitive salaries and benefits packages to their employees.

Locations

There are many locations in Arizona where you can work as a medical assistant. The average salary for a medical assistant in Arizona is $33,000. Some of the most popular cities for medical assistants in Arizona include Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, and Chandler.

Best Paying Cities

There is a wide range in medical assistant salaries across the state of Arizona. The best paying cities for medical assistants are Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff. In these cities, medical assistants can expect to make an average salary of $15-$17 per hour. The lowest paying city for medical assistants is Prescott, where the average salary is $12 per hour.

Average Salary by Experience

Medical assistants in Arizona make a median salary of $33,840 per year, or $16.26 per hour. The top 10 percent of earners make more than $45,410 per year, while the bottom 10 percent of earners make less than $25,180 per year.

Salaries for medical assistants vary based on experience and education. Medical assistants with more experience tend to earn higher salaries. Those with less than one year of experience earn a median salary of $28,860 per year, while those with 1-4 years of experience earn a median salary of $32,280 per year. Those with 5-9 years of experience earn a median salary of $34,760 per year, and those with 10-19 years of experience earn a median salary of $37,020 per year. Medical assistants with 20 or more years of experience earn a median salary of $39,920 per year.

FAQs

How much does the average medical assistant make in Arizona?

Medical assistants in Arizona make an average salary of $34,500 per year. However, salaries can range from $28,000 to $41,000 per year depending on factors such as education level, experience, and geographic location.