What’s the Pay Range for Medical Assistants?

Considering a career as a medical assistant? Here’s what you can expect to earn in terms of salary and pay range.

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What is a medical assistant?

A medical assistant is a person who performs routine clerical and clinical tasks in a healthcare facility. Duties of a medical assistant may include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, and collecting lab specimens. Depending on the size of the healthcare facility, Medical assistants may also be responsible for more specialized tasks, such as administering medications or performing minor surgical procedures.

Medical assistants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, although some positions may require postsecondary education or certification. Medical Assistants typically receive on-the-job training that lasts several weeks to several months. Some states require medical assistants to be certified.

The median annual wage for medical assistants was $35,590 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 $25,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $48,720.

Duties of a medical assistant

A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional who supports the work of physicians and other health professionals, usually in outpatient clinics. The duties of a medical assistant vary from office to office, but there are some common tasks, such as taking medical histories and recording vital signs. In addition, medical assistants may also:

-Schedule appointments
-Prepare patients for examination
-Assist the physician during the examination
-Instruct patients about medication and special diets
-Arrange laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures
-Handle correspondence
– Billing and coding
-Addictions

The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers a voluntary certification exam for medical assistants. Certification is not required in all states, but it may be helpful in getting a job or advancing in your career.

Education and training requirements

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate or diploma from a medical assisting program. These programs typically last 1 to 2 years and lead to a certificate or diploma. Some community colleges offer 2-year associate degree programs in medical assisting.

Employers generally prefer to hire candidates who have completed an accredited program. Many employers also require medical assistants to be certified. Certification is not required in all states, but some states have certification requirements for certain tasks that medical assistants perform, such as taking X-rays.

There are several certifying organizations for medical assistants, including the American Association of Medical Assistants, the American Medical Technologists, and the National Healthcare Association. Most of these organizations offer multiple levels of certification, depending on the level of education and training an applicant has completed. Candidates must usually pass an exam to receive certification. Some states have their own certification program for medical assistants

Certification

Medical assistants can be certified by either the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the National Healthcare Association (NHA). To be eligible for certification, candidates must have graduated from an accredited medical assistant program and passed a certified medical assistant exam.

Those who are certified by the AAMA earn the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential, which is valid for 60 months. To renew their credential, CMAs must complete 60 continuing education credits and pay a renewal fee.

Those who are certified by the NHA earn the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential, which is valid for two years. To renew their credential, CCMAs must re-take the certification exam.

Medical assistants who are not certified can still find employment, but they may have less job security and earn lower wages than those who are certified.

Salary

Medical assistants are an important part of the healthcare team, providing support to doctors and other medical professionals. They perform a variety of tasks, including taking patient histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examination, and assisting with procedures.

While the job outlook for medical assistants is positive, with an expected 19% growth in employment from 2018 to 2028,1 there is no guarantee that salaries will keep pace with demand. In May 2018, the median annual salary for medical assistants was $33,610,2 but pay ranged from less than $23,650 to more than $48,930.3 Factors such as experience level, geographical location, and type of employer can affect earnings potential.

1 https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-6
2 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319092.htm
3 https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319092.htm

Job outlook

The job outlook for medical assistants is very good. The demand for medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations between 2019 and 2029.* An aging population and a continued emphasis on preventive care are expected to result in increased demand for health services in general and for medical assistants in particular.

*Job Outlook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Pros and cons of being a medical assistant

Are you thinking about a career in the medical field? If you are, you may have considered becoming a medical assistant. Medical assistants play an important role in healthcare, providing support to doctors and other medical professionals. They are responsible for a variety of tasks, including taking patient medical histories, scheduling appointments, and assisting with office procedures.

Before you decide whether or not becoming a medical assistant is right for you, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of the job. Below, we’ve listed some of the key points to consider:

Medical assistants are in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 19 percent from 2019 to 2029—much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due, in part, to an aging population and an increased demand for healthcare services.

Medical assistants are paid well. The median annual wage for medical assistants was $34,800 in May 2019. This means that half of all medical assistants earn more than this amount and half earn less.

Medical assistants have good job prospects. In addition to being in high demand, medical assistants also have good job prospects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be more than 180,000 job openings for medical assistants between 2019 and 2029.

Top 10 states for medical assistant salaries

Medical assistants in the United States earn a median annual salary of $30,780, or $14.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, pay for medical assistants can vary widely depending on the state in which they work. Here are the 10 states with the highest average salary for medical assistants, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

1. California – $37,880
2. Alaska – $36,610
3. Massachusetts – $35,040
4. Hawaii – $34,860
5. Connecticut – $33,430
6. Nevada – $32,610
7. Washington – $32,130
8. Maryland – $31,950
9. New York – $31,850
10. Rhode Island – $30,820

Top 10 cities for medical assistant salaries

Medical assistants are in high demand across the United States, with many employers looking for candidates with the appropriate training and certification. Salaries for medical assistants can vary depending on a number of factors, including experience, education, location, and specialty.

The following are the top 10 cities in the United States for medical assistant salaries, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

1. New York City, NY – $37,060
2. Los Angeles, CA – $36,650
3. Chicago, IL – $35,780
4. Houston, TX – $34,920
5. Phoenix, AZ – $33,850
6. Philadelphia, PA – $33,610
7. San Antonio , TX – $32,990
8. San Diego , CA – $32,770
9. Dallas , TX – $31,950

How to become a medical assistant

To become a medical assistant, you will need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some programs may require that you have some experience working in the medical field, but it is not always a requirement. Once you have your diploma or equivalent, you can enroll in a medical assistant program at a community college, vocational school, or online school.

Most programs will take between one and two years to complete and will result in a certificate or diploma. Some programs may also offer an associate’s degree, but this is not required to become a medical assistant. Once you have completed your training, you will then need to pass a certification exam to earn your credential.