How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make? Front and Back Office Salaries

Discover how much Medical assistants make in both front and back office settings. Plus, learn about the factors that can affect medical assistant salaries.

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How much does a medical assistant make?

Medical Assistants are in demand. Mostly working in outpatient settings like clinics and physician’s offices, medical assistants take on both administrative and clinical duties. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistant positions are expected to grow by 23 percent between 2016 and 2026 — much faster than the average occupation.

With so many Americans living with chronic conditions and an aging Baby Boomer population, the healthcare industry is booming. As a result, there’s a growing need for medical assistants to keep things running smoothly. If you’re thinking about becoming a medical assistant you might be wondering about salaries. How much does a medical assistant make?

Medical assistant salaries can vary based on experience, location, and whether they work in a front or back office setting. Front office medical assistants typically handle administrative tasks like scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage, and greeting patients. Back office medical assistants usually handle clinical duties like taking patient vital signs, administering injections, and assisting with examinations.

Here’s a closer look at front and back office medical assistant salaries:

Front office medical assistants typically handle administrative tasks like scheduling appointments, verifying insurance coverage, and greeting patients. According to PayScale, the median salary for a front office medical assistant is $30,361 per year. Salaries can range from $22,867 to $39,308 per year.

Back office medical assistants usually handle clinical duties like taking patient vital signs, administering injections, and assisting with examinations. PayScale reports that the median salary for a back office medical assistant is $29,361 per year. Salaries can range from $21,564 to $38296 per year

Front office medical assistant salaries

The front office medical assistant is responsible for greeting patients, scheduling appointments, handling patient inquiries, and performing other administrative duties. They are often the first point of contact between a patient and a healthcare practice.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for medical assistants was $33,610 in 2017. The salary range for front office medical assistants typically falls between $28,860 and $38,390 per year. Salaries will vary based on experience, education, location, and employer.

Back office medical assistant salaries

The average salary for a back office medical assistant is $15.50 per hour. Most back office medical assistants work in doctors’ offices, clinics, and other outpatient care facilities. Their duties may include scheduling appointments, taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, giving patients information about medications, and collecting and preparing laboratory specimens. In some states, back office medical assistants may also be allowed to give injections and perform basic laboratory tests.

The difference between front and back office medical assistant salaries

The medical assistant occupation is projected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). As the healthcare industry continues to expand, there will be an increasing need for medical assistants in both the front and back office. But what is the difference between these two types of positions? And how does it affect medical assistant salaries?

Front office medical assistants are typically responsible for handling administrative duties, such as answering phones, scheduling appointments, and verifying insurance coverage. They may also be responsible for taking patient vital signs, updating patient medical histories, and preparing exam rooms before the doctor sees the patient.

Back office medical assistants typically have more clinical responsibilities than front office medical assistants. These responsibilities may include giving injections, taking x-rays, assisting with lab tests, and removing stitches. They may also work closely with patients to educate them on their medications and diet plans.

Salaries for front office medical assistants are usually lower than salaries for back office medical assistants because they have less responsibility. According to PayScale.com, the median salary for a front office medical assistant is $31,824 per year. The median salary for a back office medical assistant is $33,496 per year.

How experience affects medical assistant salaries

How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make? Front and Back Office Salaries
Just as there are differences in medical assistant duties between front and back offices, there are also differences in medical assistant salaries. Generally, medical assistants with more experience earn higher salaries than those with less experience. Other factors that may affect medical assistant salaries include the type of practice, geographic location, and hours worked.

Medical assistants who work in larger practices or in urban areas tend to earn more than those who work in smaller practices or rural areas. Medical assistants who work full time usually earn more than those who work part time. And, finally, medical assistants who have completed an accredited medical assistant program usually earn more than those who have not.

The difference between medical assistant salaries in different states

There is a big difference in medical assistant salaries depending on what state you work in. Here is a breakdown of the average hourly salary for medical assistants in different states, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

-Alabama: $14.14
-Alaska: $19.54
-Arizona: $15.42
-Arkansas: $13.95
-California: $16.85
-Colorado: $17.07
-Connecticut: $17.52
-Delaware: $15.81
-District of Columbia: $18.67
-Florida: $14.79
-Georgia: $15.27

The difference between medical assistant salaries in different cities

One of the biggest factors in determining how much a medical assistant will earn is location. The cost of living, as well as the local demand for medical assistants, can play a big role in setting salaries. MAs in larger metropolitan areas usually earn more than those in smaller towns.

Here is a look at MA salaries in different cities, both large and small:

-New York, NY: $37,780
-Los Angeles, CA: $35,540
-Chicago, IL: $33,440
-Houston, TX: $30,980
-Phoenix, AZ: $28,750
-Philadelphia, PA: $28,610
-San Antonio, TX: $26,790
-San Diego, CA: $26,740
-Dallas, TX: $26,490

The difference between medical assistant salaries at different hospitals

There is a big difference in medical assistant salaries depending on what type of hospital they work at. The front office medical assistants make an average of $15 an hour, while the back office medical assistants make an average of $11 an hour.

The difference between medical assistant salaries in different specialties

The medical assistant occupation is one of the most versatile in healthcare, with many different specialties and sub-specialties. earn a median salary of $33,610 per year, or $16.17 per hour. The top 10 percent of workers make more than $48,000 annually, while the bottom 10 percent earn less than $23,000.

There are several factors that will affect how much you can expect to earn as a medical assistant. Your geographic location, type of employer, years of experience, and level of education all play a role in setting your salary.

Medical assistants who work in physicians’ offices have the highest median salary at $36,540 per year. Those who work in hospitals earn a median salary of $34,800 per year, while those working in clinics and other outpatient care centers earn a median salary of $32,480 annually.

The industry with the highest concentration of medical assistants is physicians’ offices, where they make up more than 34 percent of all medical assistants employed. Hospitals employ 25 percent of medical assistants, while clinics and other outpatient care centers make up 20 percent.

How to maximize your medical assistant salary

Most new medical assistants start their careers working in the front office. Your responsibilities in the front office will include greeting patients, answering phones, scheduling appointments, and collecting co-pays. You may also be responsible for handling insurance forms and other paperwork. As a medical assistant, you will be the first point of contact for patients, so it is important that you have excellent customer service skills.

While most medical assistants start their careers in the front office, many eventually move to the back office where they work directly with patients. In the back office, you will take medical histories, measure vital signs, prepare patients for examinations, and assist the doctor or nurse with procedures. You may also administer injections and immunizations and give patient instructions on follow-up care.

The type of medical practice will also impact your medical assistant salary. assistants who work in large hospitals or clinics generally earn more than those who work in small private practices. Medical assistants who have specialized training or certification may also earn more than those who do not.