What is the Salary for a Medical Assistant?

If you’re considering a career as a medical assistant you’re probably wondering about the salary potential. Here’s what you need to know.

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Job Description

Working under the supervision of a licensed physician, Medical assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians and other health practitioners running smoothly. Many Medical Assistants have postsecondary education, although some have only on-the-job training.

medical assistant Duties

Medical assistants perform many duties to support the work of physicians and other health professionals. They are responsible for a variety of clinical and administrative tasks, including taking medical histories and recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, assisting during the exam, scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, billing and coding for insurance purposes. Medical assistants also may give patients injections or injections of medications as directed by a physician.

medical assistant Salary

Medical assistants are in demand in a variety of settings, from hospitals to clinics to private physician practices. Providing both administrative and clinical support, medical assistants play an important role in the day-to-day operations of healthcare facilities.

While many medical assistants are trained on the job, an increasing number are completing formal education programs. And as the healthcare industry continues to grow, so too is the demand for qualified medical assistants.

So what is the salary for a medical assistant? It depends on a number of factors, including experience, location, and type of employer. Here’s a look at three different sources of data on medical assistant salaries:

Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a division of the US Department of Labor, is a good place to start when researching salaries. The BLS breaks down salary information by state and metropolitan area.

According to the BLS, the median annual salary for medical assistants was $31,540 in 2017. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,130, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $43,710.

PayScale
PayScale is a website that provides self-reported salary information from workers around the country. The site breaks down salaries by city and experience level.

According to PayScale’s data, the median annual salary for medical assistants is $32,741. Salaries range from $22,891 to $45,085 per year. Entry-level medical assistants earn a median salary of $28,171 per year, while those with five or more years of experience earn a median salary of $36,258 per year.

AMA Compensation Report
The American Medical Association (AMA) annually surveys physicians on their compensation and benefits packages. The report includes data on salaries for various healthcare roles, including medical assistants.

How to Become a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are allied health professionals who support the work of physicians and other health professionals, usually in outpatient clinics. They perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks, including taking and recording medical histories and vital signs, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, administering medications and injections, scheduling appointments, handling correspondence, billing, and coding for insurance purposes.

Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate or diploma from an accredited program. Some states have certification programs for medical assistants. Certification is not required in all states but may be preferred by some employers.

Education Requirements

In order to become a medical assistant, one must have a high school diploma or GED. Some employers may require postsecondary education, such as a certificate from an accredited medical assisting program. Some community colleges offer these programs, which can take about a year to complete.

Certification

There are several different types of medical assistant certifications available. The most common are the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). To become certified, medical assistants must complete an accredited training program and pass a certification exam.

The CMA certification is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), while the RMA certification is offered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). The CCMA certification is offered by the National Healthcare Association (NHA).

Job Outlook

The job outlook for medical assistants is very good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the occupation will grow by 29% between 2016 and 2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due to the increasing number of older Americans, who need more medical care. The median salary for a medical assistant was $32,480 in 2016.

Pros and Cons of Being a Medical Assistant

Global medical assistants might have slightly different duties than those in the United States They may also have different salaries. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect to earn in various countries as a medical assistant.

The median salary for a medical assistant in the United States is $33,610 per year, or $16.17 per hour. The top 10% of earners make more than $48,720 per year, while the bottom 10% earn less than $23,490 per year. Most medical assistants are paid hourly, and the hourly wage can range from $9.86 to $20.00. The median hourly wage for a medical assistant in the United States is $16.17.

In Canada, medical assistants earn a median salary of C$34,533 (US$26,084), or C$16.60 per hour. The top 10% of earners make more than C$48,720 (US$36,584), while the bottom 10% earn less than C$23,490 (US$17,788). like their US counterparts, most Canadian medical assistants are paid hourly, and the hourly wage can range from C$9.86 to C$20.00. The median hourly wage for a medical assistant in Canada is C$16.60 (US$12.57).

In Australia, medical assistants earn a median salary of AU$50,220 (US$38,0230), or AU$24.21 per hour. The top 10% of earners make more than AU$72,330 (US54170), while the bottom 10% earn less than AU35480 (US26210). Most Australian medical assistants are paid hourly rates that range from AU19 to AU37 per hour . The median hourly rate for a medical assistant in Australia is AU2421 (US1829).

As you can see, there is some variation in salaries for medical assistants around the world. In general, though, they tend to be paid relatively well compared to other occupations . If you are considering becoming a medical assistant , be sure to research salaries in your specific country or region so that you have a realistic idea of what you can expect to earn .

Medical Assistant Job Satisfaction

Working as a medical assistant can be a very rewarding job, both emotionally and financially. In addition to the satisfaction of helping others, medical assistants also enjoy a good salary and job security.

The average salary for a medical assistant is $30,590 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bottom 10 percent of earners make less than $21,780 per year, while the top 10 percent make more than $41,470 per year.

Job satisfaction for medical assistants is high, with many feeling a great sense of pride in their work. A 2016 survey by the Medical Group Management Association found that nearly 90 percent of medical assistants were satisfied with their jobs.

The job outlook for medical assistants is also positive, with the BLS projecting that employment will grow by 29 percent from 2016 to 2026. This growth is much faster than the average for all occupations, making medical assisting one of the most promising career paths today.

FAQs

Q: How much does a medical assistant make?
A: Medical assistants typically earn between $30,000 and $50,000 per year, with the exact amount depending on experience, location, and employer.