Medical Assistant Salary in the Us | 2022

Medical assistants are in extremely great demand today. This is true; but what might be my salary as a medical assistant who lives in the US? This question always rings a bell in the heart of most entry-level medical assistants graduates.

Well, we’ll respond to your question further down. But we’ll go far beyond that.

Based on medical assistants’ job descriptions, they undertake a wide range of activities in clinics, medical offices, and other healthcare institutions as vital healthcare workers. These activities alone are vital in the world and demand a good salary.

So, it’s never out of place when you seek to know your salary range as a medical assistant. While these remain vital information to sort for, this article will walk you down all salary outlooks, ranging from medical assistants’ salaries by state, city, industry, and level.

Basically, medical assistants earn an average annual salary of $36,930 ($17.75 hourly) according to data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 2020.

Pay ranges widely depending on the state in which you practice, your level of experience in the field, and the type of healthcare facility where you work (hospital, physician’s office, assisted living, etc.).

However, graduates who begin their first job as medical assistants right after graduation will need to gain experience in order to rise above the entry-level wage and reach the national average.

Also, medical assistants in the top 10% of the pay scale earn an average of $50,580 per year. And you can only get to this level if you have a lot of experience and a lot of work to back it up.

Let’s walk you down from the role of a medical assistant to the salary ranges.

What Does It Mean To Be A Medical Assistant?

Medical assistant responsibilities include taking and documenting vital signs and other medical data, as well as front- and back-office responsibilities such as scheduling appointments, billing, and responding to patient concerns.

Medical assistants play an important and distinctive role in the hospital’s operations where they work. They take on clinical and administrative obligations, dividing their time between direct patient interaction and administrative activities to keep things operating smoothly.

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What Is The Role Of A Medical Assistant?

Under the supervision of a physician, medical assistants (MA – CMA if certified) undertake administrative and clinical tasks. Clinical medical assistants and medical administrative assistants are the two most common categories of medical assistants. You will be accountable for a variety of medical responsibilities, depending on your position. Medical assistants operate in a variety of settings, including;

• Answering the phone, arranging appointments, notifying the physician about patient problems, and greeting patients when they arrive at the office are all part of the front office’s responsibilities.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contact patients in the back office. You may be responsible for taking vital signs, acquiring the patient’s medical history, and even assisting in the treatment of patients.

You may be in charge of blood draws, pregnancy tests, drug screens, and other in-house lab operations.

Medical assistant responsibilities are tough to pin down because they differ so much between facilities and roles within them.

Working in the healthcare field will allow you to uncover your talents and preferences. As a result, medical assisting is an excellent place to start when deciding on a career path in healthcare.

Another career path you can choose to become is an Anesthesiologist. See How Can I Become An Anesthesiologist in 2021

Medical Assistant Responsibilities

Though their tasks will vary depending on their workplace, a Medical Assistant is likely to engage directly with physicians and other members of the patient care team, as well as the office manager, outside vendors, and insurance companies, during a single day. As a result, they must be alert, well-organized, meticulous, and adaptable.

It’s crucial to realize that, besides their base salary, full-time Medical Assistants are frequently entitled to additional benefits, such as life and health insurance, paid vacation, personal and sick days, tuition reimbursement, and more.

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Do Medical Assistants Make a Good Living?

Medical assisting is a rewarding healthcare career that does not cause a four-year degree. With just one or two years of post-secondary training, you can quickly enter this field and work directly with patients. However, before making the leap, make sure you’re aware of current medical assistant salary expectations.

Forbes.com listed medical assistant as the second-best career available to those without a college degree in Medical Assistant. It is also one of the top 100 best jobs in the country, ranking sixth among the finest healthcare support jobs.

You can start by checking out these 20 Highest Paying Medical Jobs in America in 2022

How Much Do Medical Assistants Make? 2022 Medical Assistant Salary

Medical assistant salaries vary depending on a variety of circumstances, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for Medical Assistants in 2020 was $35,850.

A medical assistant’s salary is determined by a variety of factors. The national average salary in May 2018 was $33,610 per year, or $16.16 per hour, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Half of the medical assistants earn more than the average salary, while the other half earn less. According to the BLS, the top 10% of earners in this field earn more than $47,250 per year, while the bottom 10% earn less than $24,790 per year or $11.92 per hour. They will release soon 2022 data.

If you are certified by a recognized agency, have a post-secondary certificate or diploma, have more years of work experience, live in specific states (for example, Alaska!) or cities (for example, New York), work for specific employers, or have specialty training, experience, or certification, you can earn more as an MA.

What Is The Hourly Salary Of A Medical Assistant?

Medical Assistants earned an average hourly wage of $17.63 in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What Is The Highest Salary A Medical Assistant May Earn?

Medical Assistants have the potential to earn close to $50,000 a year, according to the BLS, with the top 10% earning more than $50,580 in 2020.

Basically, medical assistants make much more money in some states than in others, and those who work in metropolitan regions make even more.

Medical Assistant Salaries at Entry Level

A new assistant’s salary will most likely be in the bottom 10% of the BLS data, which averages $24,790 per year. With more years of experience, most people’s pay will rise.

Medical assistants with zero to two years of experience earn $25,864 to $33,265 per year, according to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The amount of money a medical assistant can make is determined by where they work, their specialty, and the type of work they do.

Salaries of Medical Assistants by State

If you’re thinking about becoming a Medical Assistant, it’s important to know what kind of salary you can expect depending on where you live. 

According to the same AAMA report, Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii have the highest salaries for medical assistants with any level of experience. The average yearly salary for a medical assistant in this area is $40,085 per year.

Alaska, the District of Columbia, Washington, Minnesota, and Massachusetts are the top five states (and D.C.) for pay, according to the BLS. $45,490, $42,010, $41,340, $40,320, and $40,270, respectively, are the average salaries.:

Medical Assistants’ Salary in the Highest-Paying Cities

The reputation of metropolitan places paying higher wages than in more rural areas is well-deserved. There are various causes for this, including increased demand for experienced experts and more competition, as well as a higher cost of living.

The five cities with the highest salary for Medical Assistants, according to the BLS, are listed below, along with where each stands in terms of cost of living compared to the rest of the country.

• $46,170 in Vallejo, California (cost of living is 31.3 percent higher than the U.S. average)
• $45,640 in San Francisco, California (cost of living is 169.3 percent higher than the U.S. average)
• $45,110 in Anchorage, Alaska (cost of living is 23.5 percent higher than the U.S. average)
• $44,410 in Seattle, Washington (cost of living is 72.3 percent higher than the U.S. average)
• $44,300 in Barnstable Town, Massachusetts (cost of living is 21.5 percent higher than the U.S. average).

Salary of Medical Assistants by Location

Their work environment influences A Medical Assistant’s salary in addition to their experience, credentials, and geographic region.

Although more than half of Medical Assistants in the United States work in private physician’s offices, those who earn the most money work in outpatient care centers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Those who work in hospitals (whether state, local, or private) make about the same median yearly pay as those who work in doctors’ offices, which is around 5% less.

Medical Assistants’ Highest-Paying Industries

• Outpatient care centers: yearly median pay of $36,810
• State, local, and private hospitals pay a median annual salary of $36,080.
• Physician’s offices: annual median salary of $34,870
• Chiropractors’ offices: annual median pay of $30,870
• *Based on BLS data.

Factors Influencing Medical Assistant’s Salary

Medical assistant salaries can vary widely depending on specialization, region, years of experience, education, and a variety of other criteria. 

Administrative medical assistants’ tasks will differ from those of clinical medical assistants, however, there may be some overlap.

A full-time medical assistant may be eligible for benefits such as health insurance, vacation, holiday pay, sick time, and a 401(k) plan. 

According to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), nearly all full-time medical assistants receive benefits from their employers.

How Do I Become a Medical Assistant?

If you’ve determined that becoming a Medical Assistant is the appropriate career route for you, check out our helpful guide to learn more about the process!

The following are the basic stages you’ll take:

• Choosing a Medical Assistant Training Program
• Obtain certification as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
• Begin looking for work!

Employment

A career as a Medical Assistant is not only interesting to those interested in healthcare, but it is also a wise choice in terms of job security. Medical Assistants not only receive competitive pay and benefits, but their career prospects are also bright, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We expect it to add 139,200 new jobs over the next ten years, representing a staggering 19 percent rise.

Medical assistants are most commonly employed in private physician’s offices, although they can also work in nursing homes, clinics, long- and short-term healthcare facilities, and hospitals.

To increase your chances of employment, opt for a Master’s degree. These 20 Best Medical Schools in the US 2022 will help you achieve that.

How to Increase Your Medical Assistant Salary

The ease of admission into the field of medical assisting is one reason for its popularity.

Get a Medical Assistants Certification

Obtaining a certification can help you earn more money.

While some businesses will provide on-the-job training to individuals with a high school diploma, candidates who want to earn a higher salary will not only enroll in one of the many high-quality training programs available but will also choose one that includes professional certification.

Certification will not only authenticate your professionalism and knowledge, but it will also make you a more desirable job applicant and lead to a higher salary.

You might want to earn a certification from these 20 Medical Certifications That Pay Well in 2022

Gain Experience

With experience, you can earn more money.

The longer you work in the field, the higher your value will be and the higher your salary will be.

Medical Assistants with ten or more years of experience can earn up to 20% more than those who are new to the industry, and they may be eligible for higher-paying management roles when they become available.

Years of experience are one method to increase your compensation as a medical assistant, but there are other ways to improve your earning potential:

• Wherever the jobs are, go.
• Earn an associate degree if you already have a certificate or diploma.
• Tutor and teach prospective medical assistants as a volunteer.
• Obtain certification in medical helping.
• Acquire qualifications in related fields to broaden your horizons.

Consider Changing Careers

Medical assisting is a stepping stone for some people who want to advance to a higher-paying position. You may, for example, return to school to pursue a career as a nurse. You would have an advantage over students who are just starting out because of your significant knowledge and experience of working with patients.

Do you want to pursue a career as a medical assistant? You can work your way up to being a manager, supervising other medical assistants. A rise in pay usually accompanies job advancement.

Job Outlook for Medical Assistants

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they predict medical assistant jobs to expand by 19 percent between 2020 and 2030, substantially faster than the average for all occupations. This is due in part to the burgeoning baby boomer demographic, which will continue to drive up demand for medical services.

Medical assistants’ demand is also increasing due to new and changing jobs. As more physicians transition to electronic health records (EHRs), for example, the demand for tech-savvy medical assistants will rise.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for medical assistants is predicted to expand by 19 percent between 2020 and 2030, substantially faster than the average for all occupations.

They mostly employ medical assistants in primary care, which is a rapidly expanding area of the healthcare industry. However, a growing number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities will require medical assistants and other support staff.

To operate at their optimum, many healthcare facilities rely on state funds and other sources of salary. There may be fewer jobs available for medical assistants and other healthcare workers if a state’s budget does not allocate enough money for maximum efficiency. 

In other circumstances, because of the size of their population and medical demands, certain states may simply have fewer facilities.

FAQs on Medical Assistant Salary In The Us

Conclusion

Medical assistants are a subset of a larger community of healthcare workers who help patients stay healthy. The truth remains that the salary for medical assistants will vary because of differences in skill sets and education.

References

• nurse.org – Medical Assistant Salary
• allalliedhealthschools.com – Medical Assistant Salary Guide
• medassisting.org – Salaries for Medical Assistants
• herzing.edu – Average Medical Assistant Salary