What Are the Best Jobs for Medical Assistants?

Medical assistants are in high demand and are expected to grow by 29% from 2019 to 2029.* If you’re considering a career in medical assisting, you’re likely wondering what the best jobs for Medical assistants are. Here’s a look at some of the best jobs for medical assistants, based on salary, job outlook, and other factors.

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Job Description

Medical assistants are unlicensed personnel who perform many tasks in a medical office. They may work in both the front and back offices. Some of their duties include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, billing and coding insurance forms, taking medical histories, brief physical exams, lab work, and instructing patients on follow-up care. They may also be responsible for ordering office supplies and keeping the medical office organized.

While most medical assistants have a postsecondary certificate, some have completed formal medical assisting programs at community colleges, technical schools, or 4-year colleges. A small number of states have certification programs for medical assistants. Employers typically prefer to hire candidates who have completed a formal education program and/or have certification.

Duties

Most medical assistants have an associate’s degree, although some have postsecondary certificates and a few have bachelor’s degrees. Although formal education is not required for entry-level positions, it is becoming increasingly important as the role of medical assistants expands and as more states require certification.

Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners running smoothly. The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the size and type of practice and the practitioners’ training, but they usually include both administrative tasks—such as answering phones, taking patient histories, scheduling appointments—and clinical duties—such as recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, giving injections.

Qualifications

Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of physicians and other health professionals. They are often responsible for scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records billing, and insurance processing. In some states, medical assistants may also be allowed to perform certain clinical tasks, such as drawing blood or administering medications.

To become a medical assistant you will need to complete an accredited training program. These programs typically take one year or less to complete and result in a certificate or diploma. Some community colleges also offer two-year associate degree programs in medical assisting. Although not required, completing an accredited program can give you an edge when applying for jobs.

Salary

The median annual wage for medical assistants was $34,800 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 $25,670, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $49,630.

Job Outlook

Medical assistants are in high demand due to the growth of the healthcare industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is expected to grow 19% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.1 With such a large demand for medical assistants, it’s no surprise that there are many different job opportunities available.

Here are some of the best jobs for medical assistants:

1. Clinical medical assistant: Clinical medical assistants work in doctors’ offices and other outpatient care facilities. They may take vital signs, give injections, prepare patients for examinations, and assist with office procedures.

2. Administrative medical assistant: Administrative medical assistants perform clerical duties in doctor’s offices and other healthcare facilities. They may schedule appointments, handle billing and insurance matters, keep patient records, and answer phones.

3. Specialty medical assistant: Specialty medical assistants typically have more training than other types of medical assistants. They may work in a specific area of medicine, such as ophthalmology or cardiology.

4. Medical records technician: medical records technicians organize and maintain patient health information. They may file insurance claims, transcribe doctors’ notes, and coding diagnoses and treatments into patients’ records.

5. Pharmacy technician: Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medications. They may receive prescriptions from patients and doctors, measure and mix medications, and prepare them for dispensing.

Best Places to Work

There are many great places to work as a medical assistant. Here are some of the best places to work, based on job satisfaction, pay, and other factors:

1. Doctors’ offices: Many medical assistants find that working in a doctor’s office is a great place to start their career. Doctors’ offices often have a great team atmosphere, and you will get to know the physician and other staff well. You will also have the opportunity to learn about all aspects of medicine, from patient care to billing and coding.

2. Hospitals: If you are interested in a more fast-paced environment, then working in a hospital may be the right place for you. Hospitals are always busy, and you will have the opportunity to work with many different types of patients. You may also have the opportunity to specialize in a certain area of medicine, such as surgery or pediatrics.

3. nursing homes If you enjoy working with older adults, then working in a nursing home could be a good fit for you. In this setting, you will help patients with their activities of daily living and provide them with emotional support. You will also work closely with the nursing staff to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

4. Outpatient clinics: Outpatient clinics are becoming increasingly popular as more patients choose to receive care in this setting. In an outpatient clinic, you will provide care for patients who come in for appointments and then return home after their visit. This type of clinic is usually less hectic than a hospital or doctor’s office, but it can still be challenging at times.

5. Insurance companies: Many medical assistants find that working for an insurance company is a great way to use their skills in customer service and medical billing and coding. Insurance companies often have large call centers where medical assistants can use their knowledge to help customers understand their policies and coverage options.

Top Paying Cities

There are many different types of medical assistant jobs, and salaries will vary depending on the location, industry, and experience of the medical assistant. In general, medical assistants can expect to earn a median salary of $33,610 per year, or $16.18 per hour.

Some of the highest paying cities for medical assistants include San Francisco, CA; Oakland, CA; San Jose, CA; and Vallejo, CA. These cities offer medical assistants an average salary of $39,610 per year.

Other top paying cities include Seattle, WA; Tacoma, WA; Bellevue, WA; and Everett, WA. Medical assistants in these Washington cities earn an average salary of $38,480 per year.

states with the Highest Employment Levels

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania have the highest employment levels for medical assistants.

Metropolitan Areas with the Highest Employment Levels

-New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
-Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
-Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
-Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
-Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

Non-metropolitan Areas with the Highest Employment Levels

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the non-metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels for medical assistants are:
-Northern Virginia
-Northeast Pennsylvania
-Rochester, NY
-Baltimore, MD
-Atlanta, GA