Medical Assistant Jobs

Medical Assistant Salary

When trying to make career decisions, obviously salary is a very important factor. Hours, benefits, job environment, and co-workers are all things that will determine if we enjoy our job. However, we do have bills to pay and so it is important to do research (through salary surveys, etc) on what others in the field are making before you decide to pursue a certain career.

So what is typical medical assisting salary? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average medical assistant wages are $28,300. However, this number varies greatly among states and industries. For example, in the District of Columbia the average medical assistant pay is $38,660. Additionally, medical assistant wages in psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals averages $43,390. Please check out their website to get further details. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319092.htm Keep in mind, this data is somewhat outdated as it was compiled in 2006.

There is evidence that medical assistant salaries have risen in the past 3 years. There are several websites that publish salary surveys that have reported average medical assistant salaries in the high $30’s and low $40’s.

You do have some control over how much you will make as a medical assistant. The top factors that determine salaries for medical assistants are:

• Industry (who is your employer? Public hospital, plastic surgeon, etc)
• Level of education
• Amount of experience
• Area of specialty
• Medical assistant certification

It is important to research local numbers to get accurate salary estimates. In general, the more specialized your job means the more expertise you have and probably high salary potential. For example, someone who has experience as a medical assistant in a podiatrist office would be in higher demand for podiatrists. However, it is important that you research and find out what industries are in highest demand before you start becoming an expert in that area.