How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make a Year?
Contents
- How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make a Year?
- What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
- What Is the Job Outlook for Medical Assistants?
- What Are the Education Requirements for Medical Assistants?
- What Are the Skills Required for Medical Assistants?
- What Are the Salary Ranges for Medical Assistants?
- What Are the Job Duties of a Medical Assistant?
- What Are the Working Conditions for Medical Assistants?
- What Are the Career Opportunities for Medical Assistants?
- What Is the Future of Medical Assistants?
How Much Does a medical assistant Make a Year?
We all know that the medical field is a great place to work. With the recent advances in medical technology, the medical field is only getting better. But what does that mean for medical assistants? How much does a medical assistant make a year?
A medical assistant is a vital part of any medical team. They provide support to the doctors and nurses and help to keep the patients comfortable. They also perform administrative tasks, such as scheduling
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How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make a Year?
A medical assistant’s salary can vary depending on experience, location, and employer. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for Medical assistants was $33,610 in May 2018. However, the top 10% of earners made more than $46,360, and the bottom 10% made less than $24,630.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
The job of a medical assistant is to provide support to physicians and other healthcare professionals in a medical facility. They perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to keep the office running smoothly. Medical Assistants are often the first point of contact between a patient and the physician. They are responsible for greeting patients, scheduling appointments, and taking medical histories. They may also collect lab specimens, perform basic lab tests, give injections, take x-rays, and assist with minor surgical procedures. In some states, they may also be allowed to dispense medication.
Medical assistants must be able to multi-task and handle a variety of tasks simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy. They must have strong communication skills and be able to work well under pressure. They must also have good people skills to deal with the public on a daily basis. Most medical assistants have at least a high school diploma, although some jobs may require postsecondary education or certification. Many community colleges offer programs in medical assisting that last one year or less.
What Is the Job Outlook for Medical Assistants?
Medical assistants are in high demand due to the affordable healthcare system. The job outlook for medical assistants is estimated to grow by 29% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.
What Are the Education Requirements for Medical Assistants?
To become a medical assistant, you will need to complete an accredited medical assisting program. These programs are typically offered at community colleges, technical schools, and some universities. Upon completion of a medical assisting program, you will earn a certificate or diploma. Some programs also offer an associate degree in medical assisting.
What Are the Skills Required for Medical Assistants?
Medical assistants perform many important administrative and clinical tasks in healthcare facilities. They might schedule patients for appointments, help with billing and insurance claims, maintain medical records and provide other office support. Many medical assistants take patient vital signs, prepare patients for examinations, give injections, and collect and process lab specimens. Some states allow medical assistants to perform more advanced tasks, such as removing sutures (stitches), under the direct supervision of a licensed physician.
What Are the Salary Ranges for Medical Assistants?
The medical assistant salary varies depending on the geographic location, size and type of the facility, and experience of the caregiver. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that as of May 2012, the median annual wage for medical assistants was $29,960. The lowest 10 percent earning less than $21,040, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $41,570.
What Are the Job Duties of a Medical Assistant?
Medical assistants are multi-skilled health professionals who perform both administrative and clinical duties. They work in outpatient settings such as medical offices and clinics, and they may also work in hospitals. Medical assistants work under the supervision of licensed health care providers, such as physicians, nurses and physician assistants.
The duties of medical assistants vary depending on the size and type of facility in which they work, but they typically perform a combination of administrative and clinical tasks. Administrative tasks may include answering phones, scheduling appointments, taking patient medical histories and handling billing and insurance paperwork. Clinical tasks may include taking patient vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting with minor medical procedures and providing patient education.
Medical assistants must be able to effectively communicate with patients, staff members and health care providers. They must be detail-oriented and organized, and they must be able to multitask efficiently. Most medical assistants have postsecondary education from an accredited medical assisting program; however, some states allow on-the-job training for those who do not have formal education.
What Are the Working Conditions for Medical Assistants?
Medical assistants work in clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated offices, clinics, or hospitals. They spend much of their time on their feet.
Most work full time, but about 1 in 4 worked part time in 2016. Some medical assistants may have to work evenings or weekends to cover for absent colleagues or to meet increased patient demand.
What Are the Career Opportunities for Medical Assistants?
Medical assistants perform a variety of tasks to support the work of doctors and other health care professionals. They may work in hospitals, clinics, or doctors’ offices, and their duties can include taking medical histories, scheduling appointments, checking patients’ vital signs, and preparing them for examination. Some medical assistants also perform basic laboratory tests and give injections. With additional training, they may be able to perform more advanced tasks, such as interpreting X-rays.
Most medical assistants have postsecondary education from community colleges or vocational schools. Some states require medical assistants to be certified, but certification is not required in all states. The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential is administered by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). To earn this credential, medical assistants must pass a national exam administered by the AAMA.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of medical assistants will grow 29 percent from 2019 to 2029—much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is attributable to several factors, including an aging population that will require more medical care and an increase in the number of outpatient care facilities.
What Is the Future of Medical Assistants?
The medical assistant profession is expected to grow much faster than average in the coming years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of medical assistants will grow by 29% from 2019 to 2029—much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due in large part to an aging population and advances in medical technology, which will require more support staff such as medical assistants.
As the healthcare industry grows, so does the demand for medical assistants. Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to keep doctors’ offices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities running smoothly. Their responsibilities vary depending on the size and location of their employer, but they typically do some or all of the following:
Take and record patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure and weight
Give patients injections or start intravenous (IV) fluids
Schedule patient appointments
Prepare examination rooms
Assist doctors during examinations
Collect and prepare laboratory specimens
Instruct patients about medication and special diets
Handle correspondence
Arrange hospital admissions and laboratory services
Handle billing and insurance claims