How Much Does a Medical Administrative Assistant Make?

If you’re considering a career as a medical administrative assistant you’re probably wondering how much you can expect to earn. Here’s a look at the average salary for this position, as well as the factors that can affect your earnings potential.

Checkout this video:

Job Description

A medical administrative assistant is responsible for a variety of tasks in a medical office, including greeting patients, scheduling appointments, handling patient records and insurance information, billing, and coding. They may also be responsible for ordering supplies and keeping the office organized. A medical administrative assistant should have excellent customer service skills and be able to multitask and stay calm under pressure. Many courses can be taken online to become a medical administrative assistant, and most states do not require certification. The average salary for a medical administrative assistant is $16.64 per hour, or $34,610 per year.

Duties

Medical Administrative Assistants perform a variety of duties to support the work of healthcare professionals. They may schedule appointments, maintain medical records bill patients, and handle insurance claims. Some Medical administrative assistants specialize in areas such as billing or coding, while others may provide general support to a healthcare practice.

Skills

Skills that medical administrative assistants need to possess include:
-Careful attention to detail
-The ability to type quickly and accurately
-Good organizational skills
-Excellent communication skills
-The ability to work well under pressure
-The ability to multitask
-Basic knowledge of medical terminology

Requirements

To become a medical administrative assistant, you will need at least a high school diploma, although some jobs may require postsecondary education, and you will need to complete on-the-job training. You will also need to be familiar with Medical Terminology have excellent communication and customer service skills, and be able to type quickly and accurately.

Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for medical administrative assistants was $36,540 in 2018. The lowest 10 percent made less than $26,180, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $49,620.

Job Outlook

The number of medical administrative assistant positions is expected to grow by about 23 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.1 With an aging population and advances in medical technology, the demand for healthcare services is expected to continue to grow.

Medical administrative assistants Usually need postsecondary education, such as a certificate, and most complete a brief period of on-the-job training. Many possess certification, which can demonstrate professional expertise and career advancement potential to employers.

As the healthcare industry continues to grow, so will the need for medical administrative assistants. With an aging population and advances in medical technology, the demand for healthcare services is expected to continue to grow. The number of medical administrative assistant positions is expected to grow by about 23 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.1

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [medical secretaries and administrative assistants](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/medical-secretaries-and-administrative-assistants), on the Internet at [www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/medical-secretaries-and-administrative](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/medical-secretaries-and-administrative) (visited February 21, 2020).

Education

Most medical administrative assistants have at least a high school diploma, although some jobs may require postsecondary education, and most employers provide on-the-job training.

Those interested in this occupation may consider a medical administrative assistant program offered at many community colleges, vocational schools, and technical institutes. These programs typically last 1 year and lead to a certificate or diploma. A few schools offer 2-year associate’s degree programs in medical office administration.

Certification

Although certification is not required for medical administrative assistants, some employers may prefer or require candidates who have completed a postsecondary education program and have earned professional certification.
Those who wish to earn certification can do so through organizations such as the National Healthcare Association and the American Association of Medical assistants To be eligible for certification, candidates must have completed a postsecondary education program and have passed an exam. Once certified, medical administrative assistants must recertify every few years to maintain their credential.

Advancement Opportunities

Career advancement opportunities for medical administrative assistants are good. Some medical administrative assistants may advance to become office managers, Medical records supervisors, or insurance processing supervisors. With experience, medical administrative assistants may also become executive secretaries or administrative assistants in large organizations. Some medical administrative assistants may open their own secretarial or transcription services businesses.

Work Environment

Medical administrative assistants work in a variety of office settings, including hospitals, private clinics, and physicians’ offices. They typically work full time during regular business hours. Some positions may require evening or weekend hours.