Looking At Medical Assistant Salary Range
Medical assistant salary levels are more than keeping up
with inflation, as medical assistants take over more and more tasks
from overburdened physicians who are not sufficiently reimbursed by
medical insurance to be able to profitably engage in some aspects of
patient care.
View the table below and continue reading this page to learn more about the salary range for medical assistants in the United States today.
View the table below and continue reading this page to learn more about the salary range for medical assistants in the United States today.
| Medical Assistant Salary By Experience (Curated Data) | Per Hour | Per Annum | ||
| Low End | High End | Low End | High End | |
| Entry Level (0-1 Years) | $9.01 | $14.35 | $18,750 | $29,850 |
| Intermediate (1-5 Years) | $10.07 | $16.48 | $20,940 | $34,280 |
| Senior (5+ Years) | $11.77 | $19.67 | $24,490 | $40,920 |
With more and more hospitals, clinics
and group practices hiring and giving additional responsibilities to
medical assistants, medical assistant salary levels are growing,
especially among medical assistants who take the opportunities afforded
by various institutions and associations to consistently boost their
skill and knowledge level through continuing education courses and
seminars.
The average medical assistant salary is as high as $36,000 in some locations, and depending on experience and credentials it can reach approximately $47,000. A medical assistant needs to be directly supervised by a physician, which is why the average medical assistant salary is lower than that of the more skilled and better trained physician assistant.
However there are many tasks, such as administration and liaison with patients and their insurance companies, for which the medical profession relies on medical assistants. This results in the constant growth of the average medical assistant salary as well as rising numbers of positions being created for medical assistants.
Professional certification, even if not required by the employer as it is in more and more cases, is one factor used in determining the medical assistant salary. Professional certification means that the medical assistant has proven his or her knowledge, it is granted by associations which provide and encourage continuing education. Accordingly, the medical assistant salary for a certified medical assistant is both higher and more likely to be raised at given intervals than their non-certified counterparts, who cannot take on as much responsibility.
Medical assistant salary levels also may vary from state to state as some states allow medical assistants to perform more complicated tasks, such as administering injections or taking simple x-rays, again only if the assistant has been trained and tested in doing so. In such states, the value of the medical assistant to the practice of medicine is higher and the medical assistant salary levels reflect this. Again it must be stressed that, especially in these states, proper training and certification is the key to attaining the highest possible medical assistant salary.
Of course, experience plays a role in determining the medical assistant salary as it does in any profession or trade. A loyal and well trained medical assistant who has stayed with the same employer and grown in responsibilities to the point that he or she is an indispensable part of the practice can expect to be rewarded with a commensurately high medical assistant salary, as can a medical assistant who attains experience and expertise that is valuable to specific types of medical practices.
For example, a medical assistant who becomes adept at negotiating the insurance and billing bureaucracy for patients and doctors alike might attain a very high medical assistant salary in a large group practice that depends on insurance reimbursement, whereas a medical assistant with specific experience in oncology or psychiatry practices will find the highest possible medical assistant salary by always seeking employment in the requisite specialty even when changing employers.
Regardless of the specifics, it is clear that medical assistant salary levels throughout the United States are increasing and will continue to increase, as health care becomes more bureaucratic and insurance regulations cut into the income of physicians. More and more, they seek to contain costs by hiring competent and well trained assistants to do as much as legally possible within the practice as well as to be responsible for insurance related issues.
Regardless of the general economic situation in the United States, it is predicted that the average medical assistant salary will rise steadily over the foreseeable future because of increasing need for well trained medical assistants, and it can also be safely predicted that continuing education after full certification by a recognized association will always be the best way for a medical assistant to reach the highest possible level of medical assistant salary.
Therefore, training as a medical assistant is a rewarding career path for anyone who enjoys patient contact and is also able to deal with increasingly complex medical insurance issues.
Medical Assistant: Salary, Job & Prospects
Medical Assistants assist in providing healthcare by supporting doctors and healthcare professionals as they go about saving lives, relieving pain and curing diseases. Medical Assistants work in well-lit, clean environments and are required to perform both administrative and clinical tasks that are routine in nature. Here is everything you wanted to know about a career as a Medical Assistant:
Duties of a Medical Assistant
Medical Assistants typically assist doctors and physicians in the following ways:
An Administrative Medical Assistant fills out forms (medical, insurance) and performs tasks like handling correspondence, dealing with hospital admissions, handling appointments and billing. Clinical Medical Assistants help healthcare professionals administer treatment and perform jobs like taking medical histories, explaining procedures to patients or instructing them about medicinal doses, assisting doctors during examinations, doing laboratory-related work including preparing blood samples, preparing patients for X-rays, ECG, etc. Ophthalmic medical assistants help doctors provide eye treatments; Optometric Medical Assistants and Podiatric Medical assistants help Optometrists and Paediatricians respectively.
The average medical assistant salary is as high as $36,000 in some locations, and depending on experience and credentials it can reach approximately $47,000. A medical assistant needs to be directly supervised by a physician, which is why the average medical assistant salary is lower than that of the more skilled and better trained physician assistant.
However there are many tasks, such as administration and liaison with patients and their insurance companies, for which the medical profession relies on medical assistants. This results in the constant growth of the average medical assistant salary as well as rising numbers of positions being created for medical assistants.
Professional certification, even if not required by the employer as it is in more and more cases, is one factor used in determining the medical assistant salary. Professional certification means that the medical assistant has proven his or her knowledge, it is granted by associations which provide and encourage continuing education. Accordingly, the medical assistant salary for a certified medical assistant is both higher and more likely to be raised at given intervals than their non-certified counterparts, who cannot take on as much responsibility.
Medical assistant salary levels also may vary from state to state as some states allow medical assistants to perform more complicated tasks, such as administering injections or taking simple x-rays, again only if the assistant has been trained and tested in doing so. In such states, the value of the medical assistant to the practice of medicine is higher and the medical assistant salary levels reflect this. Again it must be stressed that, especially in these states, proper training and certification is the key to attaining the highest possible medical assistant salary.
Of course, experience plays a role in determining the medical assistant salary as it does in any profession or trade. A loyal and well trained medical assistant who has stayed with the same employer and grown in responsibilities to the point that he or she is an indispensable part of the practice can expect to be rewarded with a commensurately high medical assistant salary, as can a medical assistant who attains experience and expertise that is valuable to specific types of medical practices.
For example, a medical assistant who becomes adept at negotiating the insurance and billing bureaucracy for patients and doctors alike might attain a very high medical assistant salary in a large group practice that depends on insurance reimbursement, whereas a medical assistant with specific experience in oncology or psychiatry practices will find the highest possible medical assistant salary by always seeking employment in the requisite specialty even when changing employers.
Regardless of the specifics, it is clear that medical assistant salary levels throughout the United States are increasing and will continue to increase, as health care becomes more bureaucratic and insurance regulations cut into the income of physicians. More and more, they seek to contain costs by hiring competent and well trained assistants to do as much as legally possible within the practice as well as to be responsible for insurance related issues.
Regardless of the general economic situation in the United States, it is predicted that the average medical assistant salary will rise steadily over the foreseeable future because of increasing need for well trained medical assistants, and it can also be safely predicted that continuing education after full certification by a recognized association will always be the best way for a medical assistant to reach the highest possible level of medical assistant salary.
Therefore, training as a medical assistant is a rewarding career path for anyone who enjoys patient contact and is also able to deal with increasingly complex medical insurance issues.
Medical Assistant: Salary, Job & Prospects
Medical Assistants assist in providing healthcare by supporting doctors and healthcare professionals as they go about saving lives, relieving pain and curing diseases. Medical Assistants work in well-lit, clean environments and are required to perform both administrative and clinical tasks that are routine in nature. Here is everything you wanted to know about a career as a Medical Assistant:
Duties of a Medical Assistant
Medical Assistants typically assist doctors and physicians in the following ways:
- Updating the patients' medical records
- Measuring the patients' vital signs
- Administering injections and medicines
- Handling and preparing equipment
- Collecting and readying body fluid samples for testing
- Explaining procedures or preparing patients for the treatment
- Helping doctors during a physical examination
- Changing the patients' dressings
- Performing administrative duties
An Administrative Medical Assistant fills out forms (medical, insurance) and performs tasks like handling correspondence, dealing with hospital admissions, handling appointments and billing. Clinical Medical Assistants help healthcare professionals administer treatment and perform jobs like taking medical histories, explaining procedures to patients or instructing them about medicinal doses, assisting doctors during examinations, doing laboratory-related work including preparing blood samples, preparing patients for X-rays, ECG, etc. Ophthalmic medical assistants help doctors provide eye treatments; Optometric Medical Assistants and Podiatric Medical assistants help Optometrists and Paediatricians respectively.
Job dissatisfaction
issues
Though a Medical Assistant's salary (discussed below) is satisfying and there are plenty of career advancement opportunities, many Medical Assistants have expressed job dissatisfaction because they are neither a doctor nor a nurse - that is, they feel they do not have a precise job profile. Plus, an upward movement from this profession is by means of further education and training. Then, there are the long hours that take away precious family time. Medical Assistants have to pay attention to both the doctor and the patient and skillfully multi-task their duties so that both the parties are satisfied. People who detest the graphic sight of blood and injuries must not choose this profession.
Medical Assistants' Salary
Medical Assistants handle tasks that go far beyond helping doctors and nurses - Medical Assistants help the people and the community. They indirectly help in helping people regain their health. On an average, a Medical Assistant salary is pegged at $22,000 to $30,000 annually. Some Medical assistants are paid by the hour in a range of $9 and $19. They also enjoy other employment benefits such as health insurance. Highly experienced and skilled Medical Assistants get higher salaries.
Employment Opportunities
The healthcare industry is booming in America and people are getting sicker by the day. New and deadly diseases keep appearing with unfailing regularity, and, along with the usual health conditions, ensure that all hospitals and other care-giving centers are packed to their gills. Naturally, medical assistants are in big demand. As per a survey, the employment rate is expected to grow at a fast clip up to 2018 and a good education and a certification from a reputed institute can help any Medical Assistant get a well-paying job in a good healthcare center.
Training and moving up the ladder
Though many Medical Assistants are trained on the job, it helps to complete a 1- or 2-year program and get certification. A Medical Assistant's salary will be higher if he has a certificate as compared to a Medical Assistant who is not certified but has adequate job training. Certificates are awarded by American Association of Medical Assistants and Association of Medical Technologists. Here's what a Medical Assistant learns:
Career Graph
A Medical Assistant's job can involve him performing administrative tasks or interacting with patients, interacting with doctors, helping in the care-giving process, and more. Additionally, Medical Assistants can specialize in a particular branch of medicine. Once in the job, they can join a course that coaches about training in surgery technology, dental surgery assisting, medical coding, nursing, ultrasound technology, etc. If a Medical assistant gets certifications in different areas of medicine, his career can skyrocket.
At present, there is a shortage of Medical Assistants and therefore, there exists a great demand for them. It is projected that in 2012, medical assisting will be one of the top occupations that feature great career prospects. You can also take it for granted that Medical Assistants salary graph will be on the rise.
Conclusion
A Medical Assistant helps people regain their health and contribute to society, and so in that sense, it is a noble profession. There will always be a demand for skilled and qualified people, and doctors and nurses cannot be expected to perform without a Medical Assistant's help. They are faced with great future prospects and an increased demand that is expected to peak in 2018.
A Medical Assistant's salary is good enough to start with and it keeps getting better with time, experience and added certifications. To sum up, if you are not worried by the sight of blood and injuries, and you genuinely want to help the community and earn a decent income, go right ahead and become a Medical Assistant. Or, if you already are a Medical Assistant, go for additional certification to get a higher salary. Good luck!
Though a Medical Assistant's salary (discussed below) is satisfying and there are plenty of career advancement opportunities, many Medical Assistants have expressed job dissatisfaction because they are neither a doctor nor a nurse - that is, they feel they do not have a precise job profile. Plus, an upward movement from this profession is by means of further education and training. Then, there are the long hours that take away precious family time. Medical Assistants have to pay attention to both the doctor and the patient and skillfully multi-task their duties so that both the parties are satisfied. People who detest the graphic sight of blood and injuries must not choose this profession.
Medical Assistants' Salary
Medical Assistants handle tasks that go far beyond helping doctors and nurses - Medical Assistants help the people and the community. They indirectly help in helping people regain their health. On an average, a Medical Assistant salary is pegged at $22,000 to $30,000 annually. Some Medical assistants are paid by the hour in a range of $9 and $19. They also enjoy other employment benefits such as health insurance. Highly experienced and skilled Medical Assistants get higher salaries.
Employment Opportunities
The healthcare industry is booming in America and people are getting sicker by the day. New and deadly diseases keep appearing with unfailing regularity, and, along with the usual health conditions, ensure that all hospitals and other care-giving centers are packed to their gills. Naturally, medical assistants are in big demand. As per a survey, the employment rate is expected to grow at a fast clip up to 2018 and a good education and a certification from a reputed institute can help any Medical Assistant get a well-paying job in a good healthcare center.
Training and moving up the ladder
Though many Medical Assistants are trained on the job, it helps to complete a 1- or 2-year program and get certification. A Medical Assistant's salary will be higher if he has a certificate as compared to a Medical Assistant who is not certified but has adequate job training. Certificates are awarded by American Association of Medical Assistants and Association of Medical Technologists. Here's what a Medical Assistant learns:
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Medical Terminology
- Transcription
- Medical procedures
- Insurance processes
- Accounting
- Laboratory techniques
- Pharmaceutical principles
- Medical office practices, including communication
Career Graph
A Medical Assistant's job can involve him performing administrative tasks or interacting with patients, interacting with doctors, helping in the care-giving process, and more. Additionally, Medical Assistants can specialize in a particular branch of medicine. Once in the job, they can join a course that coaches about training in surgery technology, dental surgery assisting, medical coding, nursing, ultrasound technology, etc. If a Medical assistant gets certifications in different areas of medicine, his career can skyrocket.
At present, there is a shortage of Medical Assistants and therefore, there exists a great demand for them. It is projected that in 2012, medical assisting will be one of the top occupations that feature great career prospects. You can also take it for granted that Medical Assistants salary graph will be on the rise.
Conclusion
A Medical Assistant helps people regain their health and contribute to society, and so in that sense, it is a noble profession. There will always be a demand for skilled and qualified people, and doctors and nurses cannot be expected to perform without a Medical Assistant's help. They are faced with great future prospects and an increased demand that is expected to peak in 2018.
A Medical Assistant's salary is good enough to start with and it keeps getting better with time, experience and added certifications. To sum up, if you are not worried by the sight of blood and injuries, and you genuinely want to help the community and earn a decent income, go right ahead and become a Medical Assistant. Or, if you already are a Medical Assistant, go for additional certification to get a higher salary. Good luck!
Didn't
Find What You Were
Looking For?
Why not try searching our site for further information below:
Why not try searching our site for further information below: