Medical assistants, also called MAs, complete various administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners. The majority of medical assistants work in the offices of physicians, but some also work in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and more.
In this article (and video), you’ll learn the average medical assistant salary for each state, the job duties, education requirements, and some of the likes and dislikes of this profession.
Medical Assistant Job Duties
Medical assistants perform a variety of tasks on the job. Here are some of the duties an MA will perform on a daily basis:
- Take and record patient history and personal information
- Measure vital signs
- Help the physician with patient examinations
- Give patients injections as directed by the physician
- Schedule patient appointments
- Prepare blood for laboratory tests
Medical Assistant Education Requirements
What are the education requirements to becoming a medical assistant? Most individuals become medical assistants through a diploma or certificate program. These programs typically take approximately one year to complete. There are also some two-year associate’s degree programs available, depending on your state.
Finally, some medical assistants have found jobs by simply having a high school diploma and going through an “on-the-job” training program. However, most employers or states will require a diploma, certification, or even an associate’s degree.
If you’re interested in becoming a medical assistant, check community colleges or technical programs in your area. Be sure the program is a reputable and/or accredited program.
What do Medical Assistants Like or Dislike about their Job?
Here are some of the things medical assistants like about their job:
- Some feel that becoming an MA is a good start in the medical industry, especially if you’d like to go on later to become a nurse or other occupation.
- Because most medical assistants work in offices of physicians, many of them love the patient interaction.
- Many medical assistants love the hours. Most doctor’s offices work in an 8-4 or 9-5 schedule throughout the week. However, some jobs are in hospitals, and that may require non-traditional shifts.
- Most MAs love the calm atmosphere of working in a doctor’s office, and they don’t have a lot of stress of high demands as compared to some healthcare professions.
Here are some things medical assistants dislike about their job:
- Some feel that the pay isn’t that great, and they argue that they make little more than a CNA or other profession.
- Some feel that jobs are difficult to find at this time. This may be true in many areas, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics does project a 29% increase in jobs for medical assistants between years 2012-2022. This is mostly due to the “baby-boomer” population that will soon be retiring.
- Some MAs feel that the tuition is relatively high compared to the salary you get.
- Since many medical assistants work for doctors, it can be very difficult if that doctor is rude or demanding.
Medical Assistant Salary and Job Outlook
Although some individuals report a shortage of jobs in some areas, this profession is expected to grow 29 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. As of 2014, there were 584,970 medical assistants in the United States. The average hourly wage for a medical assistant as of 2014 was $15.01. The average salary for a medical assistant was $31,220.
Those salary figures are only averages, and you may make more or less depending on things like your experience (entry level will likely earn less than someone at the end of their career), the industry in which you work, and the state in which you live. Here are additional salary statistics for medical assistants:
Medical Assistant Salary and Jobs Information
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment | Employment RSE | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage | Wage RSE |
| 584,970 | 0.8 % | $15.01 | $31,220 | 0.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $10.36 | $12.26 | $14.41 | $17.34 | $20.56 |
| Annual Wage | $21,540 | $25,500 | $29,960 | $36,070 | $42,760 |
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Offices of Physicians | 349,370 | 14.22 | $15.02 | $31,230 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 85,040 | 1.62 | $15.82 | $32,910 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 57,870 | 7.48 | $13.48 | $28,040 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 38,880 | 5.56 | $15.48 | $32,200 |
| Employment Services | 7,030 | 0.20 | $15.20 | $31,620 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 1,280 | 0.20 | $17.63 | $36,670 |
| Personal Care Services | n/a | n/a | $17.32 | $36,030 |
| Insurance Carriers | 200 | 0.02 | $16.87 | $35,090 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 5,470 | 0.19 | $16.69 | $34,720 |
| Offices of Dentists | 3,750 | 0.43 | $16.62 | $34,570 |
Top Paying States for Medical Assistants:
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| District of Columbia | 1,180 | 1.74 | 0.40 | $19.16 | $39,860 |
| Alaska | 1,440 | 4.43 | 1.02 | $19.08 | $39,680 |
| Massachusetts | 16,100 | 4.85 | 1.12 | $18.09 | $37,640 |
| Washington | 12,850 | 4.43 | 1.02 | $17.24 | $35,850 |
| Connecticut | 6,920 | 4.21 | 0.97 | $17.00 | $35,360 |
Lowest Paying States for Medical Assistants
| West Virginia | 12.08 | 25,130 |
| Alabama | 12.47 | 25,930 |
| Louisiana | 12.84 | 26,700 |
Medical Assistant Salaries for all 50 States:
| State: | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage | Annual median wage |
| Alabama | 12.47 | 25,930 | 25,140 |
| Alaska | 19.08 | 39,680 | 38,980 |
| Arizona | 15.29 | 31,800 | 30,490 |
| Arkansas | 13.60 | 28,280 | 27,130 |
| California | 16.73 | 34,790 | 33,360 |
| Colorado | 15.83 | 32,930 | 32,390 |
| Connecticut | 17.00 | 35,360 | 34,000 |
| Delaware | 15.39 | 32,010 | 31,200 |
| District of Columbia | 19.16 | 39,860 | 39,340 |
| Florida | 14.13 | 29,400 | 28,740 |
| Georgia | 14.16 | 29,460 | 28,410 |
| Guam | 11.43 | 23,760 | 24,600 |
| Hawaii | 16.22 | 33,730 | 33,180 |
| Idaho | 14.46 | 30,070 | 29,330 |
| Illinois | 15.02 | 31,230 | 30,320 |
| Indiana | 14.08 | 29,290 | 28,460 |
| Iowa | 14.90 | 31,000 | 29,290 |
| Kansas | 13.73 | 28,550 | 27,570 |
| Kentucky | 13.46 | 27,990 | 27,550 |
| Louisiana | 12.84 | 26,700 | 26,360 |
| Maine | 15.10 | 31,400 | 30,550 |
| Maryland | 15.65 | 32,550 | 31,980 |
| Massachusetts | 18.09 | 37,640 | 36,000 |
| Michigan | 14.11 | 29,350 | 28,530 |
| Minnesota | 16.36 | 34,020 | 34,130 |
| Mississippi | 13.07 | 27,190 | 26,060 |
| Missouri | 13.97 | 29,060 | 27,890 |
| Montana | 15.03 | 31,270 | 30,500 |
| Nebraska | 14.51 | 30,180 | 29,170 |
| Nevada | 15.03 | 31,270 | 30,890 |
| New Hampshire | 15.75 | 32,770 | 32,620 |
| New Jersey | 15.98 | 33,240 | 32,600 |
| New Mexico | 13.61 | 28,320 | 27,740 |
| New York | 16.13 | 33,540 | 32,780 |
| North Carolina | 14.37 | 29,900 | 29,360 |
| North Dakota | 15.59 | 32,420 | 31,670 |
| Ohio | 13.71 | 28,520 | 28,020 |
| Oklahoma | 13.39 | 27,850 | 27,310 |
| Oregon | 16.49 | 34,310 | 34,300 |
| Pennsylvania | 14.39 | 29,940 | 28,820 |
| Puerto Rico | 12.75 | 26,520 | 21,550 |
| Rhode Island | 15.87 | 33,000 | 32,450 |
| South Carolina | 13.97 | 29,050 | 28,120 |
| South Dakota | 13.33 | 27,720 | 27,570 |
| Tennessee | 13.97 | 29,060 | 28,050 |
| Texas | 13.73 | 28,550 | 27,680 |
| Utah | 14.05 | 29,230 | 28,450 |
| Vermont | 16.21 | 33,720 | 33,170 |
| Virgin Islands | 14.24 | 29,630 | 27,310 |
| Virginia | 14.89 | 30,960 | 30,300 |
| Washington | 17.24 | 35,850 | 35,280 |
| West Virginia | 12.08 | 25,130 | 24,810 |
| Wisconsin | 15.48 | 32,210 | 31,940 |
| Wyoming | 14.82 | 30,830 | 30,490 |
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Medical Assistants, on the Internet at bls.gov.