Medical Assistants

Medical Assistants

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

Salary by State

State Name Employment Annual Salary Hourly Salary
Alabama 10,120 $31,390 $15.09
Alaska 1,700 $46,390 $22.30
Arizona 19,970 $37,790 $18.17
Arkansas 4,040 $32,170 $15.47
California 97,640 $44,780 $21.53
Colorado 10,980 $40,270 $19.36
Connecticut 8,660 $41,010 $19.71
Delaware 2,580 $36,450 $17.52
District of Columbia 1,960 $46,690 $22.45
Florida 57,210 $35,480 $17.06
Georgia 26,610 $35,470 $17.05
Hawaii 3,110 $42,460 $20.41
Idaho 3,950 $37,650 $18.10
Illinois 21,450 $37,910 $18.23
Indiana 18,470 $36,600 $17.59
Iowa 4,690 $38,290 $18.41
Kansas 4,670 $34,270 $16.48
Kentucky 12,670 $33,360 $16.04
Louisiana 10,290 $30,620 $14.72
Maine 3,970 $38,990 $18.74
Maryland 13,660 $39,280 $18.89
Massachusetts 13,730 $44,200 $21.25
Michigan 23,650 $35,640 $17.14
Minnesota 10,830 $44,010 $21.16
Mississippi 3,550 $31,640 $15.21
Missouri 9,930 $34,380 $16.53
Montana 1,790 $39,000 $18.75
Nebraska 2,490 $36,560 $17.58
Nevada 8,270 $36,890 $17.74
New Hampshire 2,840 $40,370 $19.41
New Jersey 17,280 $39,600 $19.04
New Mexico 6,980 $34,470 $16.57
New York 31,360 $42,100 $20.24
North Carolina 20,830 $35,650 $17.14
North Dakota 490 $37,440 $18.00
Ohio 25,040 $35,330 $16.99
Oklahoma 7,660 $32,230 $15.49
Oregon 11,300 $44,000 $21.16
Pennsylvania 26,050 $36,750 $17.67
Rhode Island 3,130 $39,390 $18.94
South Carolina 12,240 $34,270 $16.48
South Dakota 830 $33,880 $16.29
Tennessee 19,870 $35,150 $16.90
Texas 69,370 $34,660 $16.66
Utah 8,250 $35,570 $17.10
Vermont 1,320 $39,220 $18.86
Virginia 14,600 $38,330 $18.43
Washington 17,360 $47,320 $22.75
West Virginia 4,070 $31,230 $15.01
Wisconsin 13,320 $39,670 $19.07
Wyoming 970 $37,470 $18.01

Education

The programs listed below are typically the education paths that can land you this kind of job.

A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians, nurses, or other health care professionals, to perform medical office or facilities management services and perform one or more clinical allied health specialties. Includes instruction in health care management; medical office administration; medical law and regulations; training in one or more diagnostic, treatment, therapy, or laboratory specialties at the assistant level or above; and applicable professional standards and ethics.

Certificate
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's Degree

A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians, to provide medical office administrative services and perform clinical duties including patient intake and care, routine diagnostic and recording procedures, pre-examination and examination assistance, and the administration of medications and first aid. Includes instruction in basic anatomy and physiology; medical terminology; medical law and ethics; patient psychology and communications; medical office procedures; and clinical diagnostic, examination, testing, and treatment procedures.

Certificate Associate Degree
Associate Degree
Associate Degree
Certificate Associate Degree

A program that prepares individuals to assist anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists in developing and implementing patient anesthesia care plans, including preoperative, surgical theater, recovery room, and postoperative/intensive care procedures. Includes instruction in patient data collection, catheter insertion, airway management and drug administration, assisting the administration and monitoring of regional and peripheral nerve blockades, support therapy, adjusting anesthetic levels during surgery, interoperative monitoring, postoperative procedures, pain clinics and patient education, and administrative tasks.

Master's Degree
Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Master's Degree
  • $38,190 per year
    National average salary
    Very High
    Job growth rate
  • Postsecondary nondegree award
    Typical education requirement

Educational Attainment

The following chart shows the highest education level completed by those working as medical assistants.

  • Less than high school 2%
  • High school graduate 20%
  • College dropout 40%
  • Associate’s degree 25%
  • Bachelor’s degree 10%
  • Master’s degree 2%
  • Doctorate degree 1%

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