Medical Assistant Salaries & Employment

How Much Do Medical Assistants Make?

The median annual salary for medical assistants is $28,860, though numbers vary depending on experience, skill level and location.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Employment & Wages database, the states with the highest average salaries for medical assistants are:

State

Salary
Alaska
$37,750
District of Columbia
$36,790
Massachusetts
$35,010
Connecticut
$34,290
Hawaii
$34,070

A more complete list of states and their average annual salaries can be found at Medical Assistant Salaries by State.

Salaries in Other Industries

Medical assistants can work in other industries besides health care. Insurance agencies, government organizations and tax and payroll agencies employ medical assistants to oversee certain administrative tasks. In some cases, these medical assistants earn more than those in health care.

The top paying industries for medical assistants are:

Industry

Salary
Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals
$39,220
Offices of Dentists
$36,880
Scientific Research and Development Services
$35,550
Other Insurance-Related Agencies
$34,180
Insurance Carriers
$34,080

 

Figures courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Employment & Wages database.

 

Medical Assistant Employment

Employment in the health care industry is growing rapidly due to technological advancements and the growth and aging of the population.

The number of medical assistant positions in the United States is expected to reach 647,500 by the year 2018, making it one of the fastest-growing professions in the country. Currently, most medical assistants — almost 75% — work in doctors’ offices (including specialists), with the remainder working in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities.

In this increasingly competitive field, several qualifications will make a medical assistant more attractive to employers:

  • Formal training
  • Hands-on experience
  • Professional certification
  • The ability to handle both administrative and clinical tasks

Here you can find out more about what medical assistants do, or find more about medical assistant education on the training page.