Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

Salary by State

State Name Employment Annual Salary Hourly Salary
Alabama 4,830 $37,280 $17.92
Alaska 2,120 $42,460 $20.41
Arizona 15,400 $39,010 $18.75
Arkansas 1,210 $33,780 $16.24
California 98,120 $46,400 $22.31
Colorado 10,820 $38,410 $18.47
Connecticut 5,500 $43,790 $21.05
Delaware 5,050 $38,680 $18.60
District of Columbia 1,120 $47,880 $23.02
Florida 55,190 $35,800 $17.21
Georgia 8,900 $39,090 $18.79
Hawaii 880 $40,190 $19.32
Idaho 1,370 $38,060 $18.30
Illinois 23,650 $38,990 $18.75
Indiana 11,560 $37,220 $17.89
Iowa 8,000 $35,950 $17.29
Kansas 5,440 $35,960 $17.29
Kentucky 12,030 $34,030 $16.36
Louisiana 2,440 $35,220 $16.93
Maine 2,520 $39,620 $19.05
Maryland 8,450 $40,740 $19.59
Massachusetts 23,850 $46,130 $22.18
Michigan 21,110 $36,630 $17.61
Minnesota 16,320 $43,790 $21.06
Mississippi 3,260 $31,260 $15.03
Missouri 11,030 $37,410 $17.99
Montana 4,360 $35,420 $17.03
Nebraska 3,980 $37,640 $18.10
Nevada 3,270 $40,290 $19.37
New Hampshire 3,810 $41,620 $20.01
New Jersey 7,780 $42,810 $20.58
New Mexico 2,010 $35,390 $17.02
New York 44,290 $42,560 $20.46
North Carolina 16,990 $36,120 $17.36
North Dakota 1,090 $39,480 $18.98
Ohio 24,630 $36,080 $17.35
Oklahoma 8,650 $35,110 $16.88
Oregon 15,000 $44,330 $21.31
Pennsylvania 35,180 $37,770 $18.16
Rhode Island 1,790 $45,560 $21.90
South Carolina 8,700 $35,070 $16.86
South Dakota 150 $41,540 $19.97
Tennessee 16,030 $34,570 $16.62
Texas 64,740 $36,390 $17.50
Utah 4,500 $36,670 $17.63
Vermont 2,090 $40,770 $19.60
Virginia 12,530 $41,730 $20.06
Washington 7,830 $47,170 $22.68
West Virginia 1,610 $34,980 $16.82
Wisconsin 4,510 $38,800 $18.65
Wyoming 950 $36,460 $17.53

Education

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

A general program that prepares individuals to provide administrative support services in a veterinary office or animal care facility. Includes instruction in business office operations, customer service, principles of veterinary health care operations, record-keeping, veterinary terminology, and professional standards and ethics.

Post-Baccalaureate Certification

A program that prepares individuals to perform the duties of special assistants and personal secretaries for practicing veterinarians, veterinary health care facilities and services administrators, and other veterinary professionals. Includes instruction in business and veterinary communications, veterinary terminology, principles of veterinary health care operations, public relations and interpersonal communications, software applications, record-keeping and filing systems, scheduling and meeting planning, applicable policy and regulations, and professional standards and ethics.

Certificate

A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of office managers and other professionals, to perform routine administrative duties in a medical, clinical, or health care facility/system office environment. Includes instruction in general office skills, data processing, office equipment operation, principles of medical record-keeping and business regulations, medical/clinical office procedures, and communications skills.

Certificate
Certificate
Phoenix College
Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ
Certificate
Yavapai College
Yavapai College
Prescott, AZ
Certificate
Certificate

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 office managers, nurses, or physicians, to provide customer service, visitor reception, and patient intake and discharge services. Includes instruction in medical office and health care facility procedures, medical terminology, interpersonal skills, record-keeping, customer service, telephone skills, data entry, interpersonal communications skills, and applicable policies and regulations.

Certificate
Certificate
Certificate

A program that prepares individuals to perform and manage the medical and health insurance operations in a medical office, health care facility, health maintenance organization, or insurance provider. Includes instruction in health and medical insurance processes; health insurance law, policy, and regulations; insurance records and paperwork administration; insurance office administration; health/medical insurance software applications; personnel supervision; business mathematics; billing and collection procedures; medical terminology; and communications skills.

Certificate Associate Degree
Certificate
Certificate
Certificate
Certificate

A program that prepares individuals to perform the duties of special assistants and personal secretaries for practicing physicians and nurses, health care facilities and services administrators, and other health care professionals. Includes instruction in business and medical communications, medical terminology, principles of health care operations, public relations and interpersonal communications, software applications, record-keeping and filing systems, scheduling and meeting planning, applicable policy and regulations, and professional standards and ethics.

Certificate
Associate Degree
Certificate
Certificate
Yavapai College
Yavapai College
Prescott, AZ
Certificate
  • $39,740 per year
    National average salary
    Moderate
    Job growth rate
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    Typical education requirement
  • Moderate-term on-the-job training
    Typical on-the-job training requirement

Educational Attainment

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

  • Less than high school 3%
  • High school graduate 23%
  • College dropout 36%
  • Associate’s degree 18%
  • Bachelor’s degree 17%
  • Master’s degree 3%
  • Doctorate degree 1%

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