How Much Do Certified Medical Assistants Make Per Hour?
Contents
- How Much Do Certified Medical Assistants Make Per Hour?
- What Does a Certified Medical Assistant Do?
- What is the Job Outlook for Certified Medical Assistants?
- How Much Does a Certified Medical Assistant Make in a Year?
- What are the Education and Certification Requirements for a Certified Medical Assistant?
- What are the Duties of a Certified Medical Assistant?
- What are the Skills Needed to be a Certified Medical Assistant?
- How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant
- What are the Salary and Job Growth prospects for a Certified Medical Assistant?
- Why Become a Certified Medical Assistant?
If you’re considering a career as a medical assistant you might be wondering how much you could potentially earn per hour. Here’s a look at what certified Medical assistants make on average in the United States
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How Much Do Certified Medical Assistants Make Per Hour?
As of May 2019, the average hourly wage for a certified medical assistant was $17.10, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median hourly wage was $16.80. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $9.95, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $26.19.
What Does a Certified Medical Assistant Do?
As a medical assistant, you would be responsible for providing care to patients in a clinical setting. This would include tasks such as taking medical histories and performing physical examinations. You would also be responsible for scheduling appointments, handling patient billing, and ordering supplies. In addition, you would be expected to maintain accurate medical records and assist in the preparation of reports.
What is the Job Outlook for Certified Medical Assistants?
The job outlook for certified medical assistants is very positive. The demand for medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations between 2018 and 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This growth is largely due to the aging baby-boomer population and the resulting increase in the need for health care services.
How Much Does a Certified Medical Assistant Make in a Year?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, certified medical assistants made a median salary of $34,800 per year in 2018. This means that half of all medical assistants earned more than this amount, while the other half earned less.
What are the Education and Certification Requirements for a Certified Medical Assistant?
In order to become a certified medical assistant, you will need to have a high school diploma or equivalent. You will also need to complete an accredited medical assisting program. Once you have completed your education, you will need to pass the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
What are the Duties of a Certified Medical Assistant?
The duties of a certified medical assistant (CMA) can vary depending on the state in which they practice and the specific needs of their employer. However, in general, a CMA is responsible for performing a variety of administrative and clinical tasks in a medical office or clinic setting. These tasks may include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, taking patient medical histories and vital signs, preparing patients for exams, assisting physicians with procedures, handling correspondence, and maintaining Medical records In some states, CMAs may also be allowed to perform basic laboratory tests and give immunizations.
What are the Skills Needed to be a Certified Medical Assistant?
Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of physicians and other health professionals. They might take medical histories, help patients understand their treatment options, schedule appointments or provide guidance about follow-up care. Some medical assistants specialize in areas such as pediatrics, ophthalmology or geriatrics.
Most medical assistants have postsecondary education, although some have only a high school diploma. Many programs award a certificate or diploma, although some schools offer associate’s degrees in medical assisting.
How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant
In order to become a certified medical assistant, you will need to complete an accredited medical assistant program. Once you have completed the program, you will need to take and pass the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. To be eligible to take the CMA exam, you must have completed an accredited medical assistant program within the last five years. The CMA exam is a national examination administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
What are the Salary and Job Growth prospects for a Certified Medical Assistant?
Certified medical assistants (CMAs) are one of the most in-demand allied health professionals in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of CMAs is expected to grow 23% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.¹ With an aging population and increased access to health care, the demand for CMAs will continue to rise.
As the baby boomer generation ages, they will need more medical care, and as a result, CMAs will be needed to perform routine tasks and help physicians with patient care. With an aging population and an increase in chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, the demand for preventive medical services will also grow. As a result, CMAs will be needed to provide basic care and help patients manage their chronic conditions.
The median annual wage for CMAs was $33,610 in May 2019.² The lowest 10% earned less than $24,280, and the highest 10% earned more than $48,700.² The median hourly wage for CMAs was $16.19 in May 2019.² The lowest 10% earned less than $11.64, and the highest 10% earned more than $23.40.²
Most CMAs work full time, although about 1 in 5 worked part time in 2018.³ Many CMA jobs are in clinics, doctors’ offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Some CMAs may travel with health teams to provide care in remote locations or may work from home providing telehealth services.
Why Become a Certified Medical Assistant?
There are many reasons to become a certified medical assistant. The job outlook is excellent, with an expected growth rate of 29% from 2016 to 2026 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. As the baby-boomer population ages, there will be an increased demand for healthcare services.
Medical assistants play a vital role in the healthcare industry. They perform both clinical and administrative tasks in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Their duties include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, assisting physicians during exams, scheduling appointments, and handling insurance paperwork.
The median hourly wage for medical assistants was $15.28 in May 2017. The lowest 10% earned less than $9.81, and the highest 10% earned more than $21.98. The median annual wage for medical assistants was $31,780 in May 2017.
