A medical assistant salary varies depending on many factors, which include education, experience, employer, industry and geographic location.
According to the latest findings provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the medical assistant profession is one of the fastest growing occupations with a higher than average growth rate among all occupations. Due to the growth and aging of the population, the health care industry is quickly expanding in order to accommodate the rise in new patients. Because of this, medical practitioners are making more use of medical assistants in order to be able to care for more patients, which thereby fuels further job growth. Another driving force behind job growth is the increasing numbers of clinics, group practices and other health care facilities that require a large support staff of medical assistants that can manage both administrative and clinical duties. As employment is anticipated to increase 34% over the 2008-18 decade, job prospects for medical assistants will be favorable.
The national estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the hourly wage for a medical assistant can range anywhere from $10 to $19 per hour with an average of $14.31 per hour, while the annual medical assistant salary range varies between $20,810 and $40,190, averaging around $28,860 per year.
However, salaries can climb much higher especially for those with formal training or many years of experience. Some factors that will affect your salary range include:
• Education – It used to be that a high school diploma was enough to get a job as a medical assistant, but unfortunately times have changed. Now most employers prefer to hire those candidates who have completed a formal training program.
• Experience – It should come as no surprise that an entry-level medical assistant position usually starts at a lower salary than those who have been working in the field for many years. Once you have found a potential position, be sure to ask about pay increases and how they are rewarded along with other possible job benefits, preferably on your second interview. Some employers may start a medical assistant out at a lower salary for a specified probationary period and then later increase the medical assistant salary based on a performance review once the probationary period has ended. In order to avoid any disappointment or misunderstanding later on, be sure to find out this information out before accepting any job position.
• Type of employer – Quite simply, large employers have a higher salary budget than smaller employers. According to Payscale.com, annual salaries reported by individuals based on type of employer show that those working in a major hospital are in a higher pay bracket versus those working in a private medical practice. So keep in mind, bigger employer equals bigger pay.
• Certification – While certification is not a requirement, being a certified medical assistant raises the bar and provides you with a credential that shows you have a higher standard of qualifications and may also help you advance to a better job position. It seems now that employers prefer to hire certified medical assistants and will pay out higher salaries for them as compared to non-certified medical assistants.
Having an occupation that is both rewarding and satisfying, while also meeting your monetary needs is the goal of every person looking to embark on a career of any sort. Despite the fact that there are numerous reasons why you would be interested in pursuing a career as a certified medical assistant, such as working with patients and medical practitioners to provide the best possible health care to those who need it, you’ve also probably thought about the financial gains this type of career may yield. The good news is that certified medical assistant salary levels are increasing, and will continue to rise steadily over the foreseeable future due to the ever-increasing demand by employers for well-trained certified medical assistants.