Medical Assistant Salary

Today, more and more individuals are seeking to get a career in the field of healthcare, and the same can be said for the medical assistant profession. Medical assistants are responsible for providing administrative, clerical, and clinical assistance in order to help clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities provide quality and reliable healthcare services. Their role in these establishments is critical in helping them run effectively and efficiently. Among the many reasons for the increasing number of individuals pursuing this career is the medical assistant salary and job security. The healthcare field is pretty much known for the ample financial rewards and job stability it offers, and this career is no different at all.

According to the data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for medical assistants was $28,300 annually, and that was during May of 2008. Medical assistants in the middle 50 percent of the population reported an average salary ranging from $23,700 to $33,050 annually. On the other hand, the lowest and highest 10 percent of the medical assistant population earned an average annual salary of $20,600 and $39,570 respectively. The data from the BLS also reveal that general medical and surgical hospitals are the industries which employ the most number of medical assistants, with average salary registering at $29,720 annually.

Like any other careers, many factors will dictate the figures for medical assistant salary. One of them is the geographical location or State where you will be employed. Areas with higher cost of living such as big cities will most likely offer higher salary ranges as compared to small communities. Your educational background can also have a significant impact on your earning potential – those who have acquired a degree from an accredited institution usually have better chances. Certification is not generally required in order to secure a job, but you might want to know that more and more employers now prefer to hire certified medical assistants. Besides this, becoming certified can also entitle you to higher salary thresholds as well.

Years of experience also has a huge impact on medical assistant salary – a medical assistant who has been working for 10 years in the medical field will have a significantly higher pay as compared to one who is working on his first year on the job. Medical assistants who have specialized in a particular area of medicine such as cardiology and ophthalmology will also be able to earn more. The company you choose to work for will also have a significant influence on the salary you are entitled to. Hospitals owned by big and highly respected corporations are capable of offering higher salary thresholds and other benefits as compared to smaller hospitals.

If you are looking to get the best medical assistant salary you can get, it is very important that you put hard work and dedication during your education and training. The medical assistant career is booming, but can also be very competitive as more and more people are pursuing it. This is why you should aim for the best while preparing to become a medical assistant – pursue a degree in accredited schools, apply for certification, get work experience, and specialize in a particular field. Also, it is important to keep in mind that in order to achieve great heights in your career, you must be willing to start at the lowest point, then continue to work hard and build up to your success.