Employment & Salary Information
More than half of all medical assistants work in physicians' offices. The others work in public and private hospitals, inpatient and outpatient facilities, and the offices of other practitioners.
Medical Assistants work in clean, well-lit environments. They often work in fast-paced settings, interacting with a high volume of people, and handling several tasks simultaneously. The majority of full-time medical assistants work a typical 40-hour work week, although those employed by hospitals may work part-time, weekends, and/or evenings.
What is the Average Salary?
The salary or hourly wage for a medical assistant varies depending on experience, skill, education level, and location. More than 90 percent of full-time certified medical assistants are paid hourly, and about 10 percent are paid an annual salary. Those who earn an hourly wage earn on average $14.98 per hour, while those on a salary earned an average of $30,834 a year in 2009.
What are the Working Conditions?
Nationally, those working in the Pacific region of the United States reported the highest annual earnings, with averages of $31,833 per year, or $16.45 per hour. Nearly 86 percent of full-time certified medical assistants receive some form of an employee benefits package from their workplace, with 75 percent receiving major medical coverage, and 52 percent receiving disability coverage.
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What is the Job Outlook in This Field?
Employment opportunities for medical assistants are expected to grow significantly faster than the average rate of growth for U.S. occupations.
The health services industry is constantly expanding because of technological advances in medicine, a growing – and aging – population, and an increase in medical conditions such as obesity and diabetes. The number of clinics, group practices, and other healthcare facilities is predicted to continue to grow in coming years. There will therefore be a corresponding increase in the demand for support personnel, specifically medical assistants, who can handle both clinical and administrative responsibilities.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that medical assistants will form one of the fastest-growing occupations of the next decade, so job opportunities are expected to be plentiful. And as most employers prefer to hire applicants who are accredited, medical assistants who have formal training or experience, and who are certified, should have the best job prospects.
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