Medical Assistant Salary and Career

Medical assistants hold positions in a wide range of health care environments and settings and as such, the medical assistant salary can vary drastically depending on the job placement itself.

Role of the Medical Assistant

Medical assistants can work in many settings including private practices, community clinics, hospitals, operating and emergency rooms, and laboratories. There are three basic types of medical assisting positions with each involving separate primary responsibilities.

An administrative medical assistant, as the name implies, will generally be responsible for office and clerical duties relating to the day to day management of a medical practice or clinic. These duties can include patient scheduling, filing, and medical billing, which can often involve coordination with insurance carriers.

Clinical medical assistants work closely with patients prior to, during, and after exams and treatments. In this role, the medical assistant will assist in recording patient health data into their medical chart, take vital signs such as blood pressure, weight, and pulse, and may be responsible for communicating various exam procedures or treatment options to a patient.

The thirds type of medical assistant is one who specializes in a particular area of medicine. There are many areas in which a medical assistant might choose to specialize, including cardiovascular health, sports medicine, or even ophthalmology. These areas of specialization all generate a distinct medical assistant salary.

Medical Assistant Career Outlook

The career outlook for medical assistants if very favorable over the coming decade. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment growth of over 35% through the year 2018. This is considered an extremely rapid growth rate, even in the health care industry which is expanding at a fast clip as a whole.

Several factors are expected to attribute to this growth, but two primary factors stand out as the main drivers of this expansion. First, as health care costs continue to rise, health care providers are seeking ways to reduce overhead within hospitals, clinics, and private practices. One of the ways they seem to be doing this is by adding to the number of support staff personnel so that they may care for a higher number of patients during a given day.

Secondly, the aging of the baby boomer generation will lead to an unprecedented level of health care visits over the next ten years. This factor will also lead to job growth for medical assistants.

Medical Assistant Salary Data

Currently, the median annual medical assistant salary is $28,300. Again this can vary depending on the employment setting. Generally, the highest medical assistant salaries are found in medical and surgical hospitals, with the average earnings in these settings at $29,720. On the low end of the medical assistant salary scale, we find health practitioner offices aside from private physicians’ practices. These jobs merit an annual medical assistant salary of approximately $25,200 per year.

Medical Assistant Training and Education

Training to become a medical assistant is not mandated in all U.S. states, however, is highly recommended to increase employment prospects. Formal certification may be obtained upon completion of most medical assistant training programs. Again, this certification is not required in all states, but is is best to check with your own state board of health to determine exactly what is required to practice as a medical assistant.

Medical assisting training programs are generally offered as a certificate program and can be found through various community colleges and vocational schools. Much of the training can also be done online.

Summary

While the medical assistant salary may not be the highest in the health care industry, the profession can be a great place to start. If you’re looking for an entry point into the allied health fields, becoming a medical assistant could be perfect for you.

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