Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Their duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice.
Medical assistants held about 591,300 jobs in 2014. Most of these assistants work in physicians' offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities.
Most medical assistants have postsecondary education such as a certificate. Others enter the occupation with a high school diploma and learn through on-the-job training.
The median annual wage for medical assistants was $30,590 in May 2015.
Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 23 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to increase demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians. As their practices expand, physicians will hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties, allowing the physicians to see more patients.
Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for medical assistants.
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of medical assistants with similar occupations.
Learn more about medical assistants by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. |
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