Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
Medical Assistants
SOC: 31-9092 O*NET: 31-9092.00
Median Salary
$44,200
per year
Job Growth
🚀 12.5%
Much Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
112.3
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Job Zone 3
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
What does a Medical Assistants do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$35,020
10th percentile
Early Career
$37,610
25th percentile
Median
$44,200
50th percentile
Experienced
$48,160
75th percentile
Top Earners
$57,830
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$35,020
25th
$37,610
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$44,200
Mean: $44,720
75th
$48,160
90th
$57,830
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $22,810 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $37,610 and $48,160
- •Salary spread is 23.9% around the median, showing low variation
- •Total national employment: 793,460 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
High Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:811,000
Top Industries
Ambulatory Health Care Services75.6%
Offices of Physicians56.5%
Hospitals13.4%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+12.5%
Annual Openings:112,300
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)811,000
Current
2034 (Projected)912,200
+12.5%
+101,200
Employment Change
+12.5%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Faster than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Medical Assistants professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
110,350 jobs$48,0501.19x
Texas
72,280 jobs$38,9301.01x
Florida
59,870 jobs$41,3801.18x
New York
39,250 jobs$46,0400.80x
Georgia
26,800 jobs$39,0001.07x
North Carolina
23,970 jobs$42,6000.95x
Pennsylvania
23,650 jobs$42,8100.76x
Michigan
23,620 jobs$38,8401.05x
Arizona
23,300 jobs$45,4401.42x
Ohio
23,210 jobs$40,4300.82x
Illinois
22,990 jobs$45,4900.74x
New Jersey
22,530 jobs$46,2801.03x
Indiana
22,090 jobs$42,3901.35x
Tennessee
19,940 jobs$38,1501.18x
Washington
18,430 jobs$55,1201.01x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Faster than average growth expected
- •High current market demand
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Social Perceptiveness
100%
#2
Active Listening
94%
#3
Speaking
86%
#4
Reading Comprehension
80%
#5
Critical Thinking
74%
#6
Coordination
66%
#7
Monitoring
60%
#8
Service Orientation
54%
#9
Writing
46%
#10
Active Learning
40%
Skills Overview
Social Perceptiveness
advanced5.0
100%
Active Listening
advanced4.7
94%
Speaking
intermediate4.3
86%
Reading Comprehension
basic4.0
80%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.7
74%
Coordination
intermediate3.3
66%
Monitoring
intermediate3.0
60%
Service Orientation
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Social Perceptiveness
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Active Listening
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Coordination
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Service Orientation
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Writing
basicImportance46%
skills
2.3/5.0
Active Learning
basicImportance40%
abilities
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians100%
5 shared skills
Phlebotomists100%
5 shared skills
Physical Therapist Aides100%
5 shared skills
Registered Nurses82%
5 shared skills
Freight Forwarders82%
5 shared skills
Community Health Workers82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Speaking
Learn on the Job:
- →Coordination
- →Monitoring
- →Service Orientation
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Social Perceptiveness
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Reading Comprehension
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Social Perceptiveness
- ★Active Listening
- ★Speaking
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Medical Assistants
Technology Intensity
Very High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Advanced software proficiencySystem architecture understandingAutomation and scriptingEmerging technology adaptationTechnical problem-solving
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Intuit QuickBooks
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Access
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft SharePoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TecheClinicalWorks EHR software
🔥 Hot TechEpic Systems
🔥 Hot TechMEDITECH software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Intuit QuickBooks
Microsoft Access
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft Outlook
eClinicalWorks EHR software
Epic Systems
MEDITECH software
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
20
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (9)Documentation & Record-Keeping (5)Management & Supervision (1)Training & Development (1)Operations & Execution (4)
1
Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping97% perform98%
3
Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping94% perform96%
4
Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision91% perform94%
5
Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping88% perform92%
6
Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Training & Development85% perform90%
7
Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution82% perform88%
8
Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping76% perform84%
10
Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •35% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Medical Assistants
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Medical Assistants professionals typically have a CSR Holland code and highly value relationships
CConventional
SSocial
RRealistic
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Medical Assistants
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.78
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.77
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.70
Concern for Others
CriticalConcern for Others
Importance Level4.63
Adaptability/Flexibility
CriticalAdaptability/Flexibility
Importance Level4.53
Stress Tolerance
CriticalStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.53
Complete Work Styles Profile
Integrity
4.8
Attention to Detail
4.8
Dependability
4.7
Concern for Others
4.6
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.5
Stress Tolerance
4.5
Cooperation
4.5
Independence
4.4
Self-Control
4.2
Initiative
4.2
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Typical duration: Varies
Preparation Level
Job Zone 3
Medium Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training:
Training of more than one year
💼 Experience Requirement
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Associate degree programs
- • Apprenticeships (1-2 years)
- • Vocational training with related experience
3
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Associate degree programsApprenticeships (1-2 years)Vocational training with related experience
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