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Medical Assistants

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$44,200	119800	15.0%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$44,200

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

119800

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

15.0%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)

Related Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Detailed Work Activities

Interview patients to gather medical information.
Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
Move patients to or from treatment areas.
Prepare patients physically for medical procedures.
Record vital statistics or other health information.
Give medications or immunizations.
Collect biological specimens from patients.
Record vital statistics or other health information.
Explain technical medical information to patients.
Give medications or immunizations.
Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
Assist practitioners to perform medical procedures.
Control prescription refills or authorizations.
Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.
Prepare patient treatment areas for use.
Dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards.
Clean medical equipment.
Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
Apply bandages, dressings, or splints.
Provide customer service to clients or users.
Greet customers, patrons, or visitors.
Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
Perform clerical work in medical settings.
Process medical billing information.
Inventory medical supplies or equipment.
Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health.
Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
Process medical billing information.
Operate medical equipment.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.
Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms.
Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician.
Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.
Change dressings on wounds.
Schedule appointments for patients.
Inventory and order medical, lab, or office supplies or equipment.
Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests or admission.
Operate x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), or other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests.
Set up medical laboratory equipment.
Keep financial records or perform other bookkeeping duties, such as handling credit or collections or mailing monthly statements to patients.

Work Styles

Leadership

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Achievement/Effort

Persistence

Initiative

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

For more information on this career visit: https://explorehealthcareers.org/careers/allied-health-professions/medical-assistant/

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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