If you’re considering a career as a medical assistant, your professional future involves fulfilling an essential role in healthcare. Medical assistants have a broad range of responsibilities, helping contribute to the successful operation of a healthcare facility – and ensuring that doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are able to treat and care for patients effectively.
Some of the responsibilities of a medical assistant may include:
- Measuring a patient’s vital signs
- Recording patient history
- Assisting with basic examinations and treatments
- Scheduling appointments
- Preparing samples for lab testing
- Administering medications
You can work as a medical assistant in many different settings, ranging from private practices to large hospitals and other facilities. It’s a position that is in high demand and one that will always be relevant to today’s healthcare systems.
Anytime you decide to pursue a certain career path, you want to be confident that you’re making the right choice for your future – and medical assisting is no different. So, you may have a number of questions about medical assisting, such as:
- What is the salary for medical assistants like?
- What are the best industries for medical assisting jobs?
- What are the best places to work as a medical assistant?
- What are some of the different medical assistant jobs out there?
We’ve created a handy guide to answer these questions and others, so you can be ready for the bright and fulfilling future that a medical assisting job can offer.
How Much Do Medical Assistants Make?
Like any career, medical assistant salaries vary depending on the position, geographical location, employer, and other factors. There are specialized medical assistant jobs that may have a higher salary potential. Also, as you gain experience, you can work your way up the salary ladder.
Best Industries for Medical Assistant Jobs
You might assume that every medical assistant job is the same, but there are actually many different positions across various industries. If you’re searching for the best place to work as a medical assistant, you might want to consider one of these industries/workplaces.
- Physicians offices
- Medical and surgical hospitals
- Outpatient care centers
- Retirement homes
- Other health practitioner offices
- Employment services
There are also medical assistant jobs related to health insurance and similar fields.
Best States to Find a Job as a Medical Assistant
Did you know that certain states have more medical assisting jobs – and often, higher pay potential – than others? If you’re open to relocating, you have the option to move to a state where medical assistants are in very high demand. Or, you might already live in one of these states.
The top five states for medical assistant jobs are California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Georgia. The rankings are based on a balance of the number of jobs and the average wage. Here is their breakdown, based on information from the BLS.
- California
- 97,640 jobs
- Average hourly wage: $21.53
- Average annual wage: $44,780
- Texas
- 69,370 jobs
- Average hourly wage: $16.66
- Average annual wage: $34,660
- Florida
- 57,210 jobs
- Average hourly wage: $17.06
- Average annual wage: $35,480
- New York
- 31,360 jobs
- Average hourly wage: $20.24
- Average annual wage: $42,100
- Georgia
- 26,610 jobs
- Average hourly wage: $17.05
- Average annual wage: $35,470
It can be helpful to remember that factors like cost of living mean that a seemingly “lower” wage would equate to the same lifestyle in a more affordable state, compared to a “higher” wage where it’s a little more expensive to live.
If you’re only interested in the states with the highest salaries for medical assistants, and not necessarily which states have the most medical assisting jobs, then the top five are:
- Washington
- District of Columbia
- Alaska
- California
- Massachusetts
The Best Cities to Find a Job as a Medical Assistant
Now, you have an idea of the top states for medical assisting jobs – but what about the best cities for medical assistants?
We’ve put together a list of the top cities for medical assistant jobs based on factors that include:
- Number of medical assistant jobs
- Average annual salary
- Cost of living
- Lifestyle and features of the city
All data used was compiled via the information provided by the BLS.
-
- 32,000 medical assisting jobs
- Average annual salary: $40,020
- Average hourly wage: $19.24
- Average 90th percentile salary: $52,160
New York City has more medical assistant jobs than any other metropolitan area in the U.S., making it the best place to work as a medical assistant. When you consider NYC one of the world’s largest cities, it makes sense that the demand for medical assistants would be high – the city needs enough healthcare professionals to keep up with a fast-growing population!
There’s no question that New York City is an exciting and dynamic place to live, with a myriad of world-famous highlights to experience. Whether you feel like being a tourist in your own city and exploring Times Square, Central Park, or the Statue of Liberty, or prefer a long walk through your neighborhood, you’ll never run out of things to do and see.
You can also find plenty of opportunities to start (and advance) your medical assistant training. The Allen School has two medical assisting schools in New York City, including our Brooklyn and Jamaica/Queens campuses. You can gain the experience and training you need to get a job as a medical assistant there.
Note: For the purpose of this guide, the New York City metropolitan area includes Newark and Jersey City, NJ.
- 30,120 jobs
- Average annual salary: $39,750
- Average hourly wage: $19.11
- Average 90th percentile salary: $58,780
Like New York City, Los Angeles is among the United States’ largest metro areas – in fact, it’s the second-largest in the country. It’s famously warm and sunny, with beautiful beaches and incredible cultural and ethnic diversity. Los Angeles is also one of the unofficial capitals of health and wellness, so you’ll find a myriad of healthcare providers in the area.
As an L.A. local, you can enjoy fabulous shopping, restaurants, and hundreds of museums (more than 800, to be exact!). Attractions such as Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith Observatory, and Venice Beach ensure that you always have something to do.
Note: For the purpose of this guide, the Los Angeles metropolitan area includes both Anaheim and Long Beach, CA.
- 22,500 jobs
- Average annual salary: $35,300
- Average hourly wage: $16.97
- Average 90th percentile salary: $45,390
With a thriving economy, mild climate, and a relatively affordable cost of living, Dallas is easily considered one of the best places to work as a medical assistant. The metro area is home to dozens of Fortune 500 companies, constantly attracting new residents – which means that medical assistants will continue to be essential to meeting the needs of the growing city.
You can choose to live in the heart of the city or one of the many suburbs surrounding the downtown area. It’s a great option for anyone that likes staying active, as there are many parks, walking trails, lakes, and other outdoor attractions. Dallas is also known for its great schools, making it a great place to raise a family.
Note: For the purpose of this guide, the Dallas metropolitan area includes Arlington and Fort Worth, TX.
- 17,070 jobs
- Average annual salary: $36,250
- Average hourly wage: $17.43
- Average 90th percentile salary: $51,320
Houston is the second Texas city to earn a spot on our list of the best places for medical assisting jobs. It’s considered a major hub for medicine, research, and culture alike, earning worldwide recognition for its flourishing biomedical research industry. Houston is also where you’ll find the Texas Medical Center, which is the largest concentration of healthcare and research institutions in the entire world.
Like most of Texas, Houston has a fairly affordable cost of living. So, you can easily find a welcoming community and comfortable home in one of the many diverse neighborhoods of Houston, even as a new medical assistant.
Note: For the purpose of this guide, the Houston metropolitan area includes Sugar Land and The Woodlands, TX.
-
- 16,720 jobs
- Average annual salary: $37,200
- Average hourly wage: $17.89
- Average 90th percentile salary: $49,490
Miami has been ranked among the richest metropolitan areas in the world, and it’s also one of our top cities for medical assistant jobs. With its beachfront location, beautiful weather, and myriad of attractions, it’s no wonder that Miami is the country’s second-most popular tourist destination.
Whether you consider yourself a beach lover, museum explorer, or foodie in the making, you can rest assured that Miami has plenty to offer. Well-known for its vibrant nightlife and diverse population, the city of Miami is also relatively affordable in terms of cost of living.
Note: For the purpose of this guide, the Miami metropolitan area includes West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Ready to start working towards a new career? The Allen School of Health Sciences is offering virtual campus tours for enrollment for our classes starting soon. Contact the Allen School today! We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.
Image:
Shutterstock
Credit to: Billion Photos
Release information: Signed model release on file with Shutterstock, Inc.
