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Medical Assistant Salary | Medical Assistant Job Duties and Education Requirements

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.

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