Combined with a 23% growth in jobs over the next decade, the nation-wide increases being seen in medical assistant salary are increasing the attractiveness of the medical assisting profession everyday! There are new studies and surveys that have shown that medical assistants are critical to the healthy function of medical facilities. This is due to their versatility and multi-tasking ability, which is highly sought after in a healthcare environment.
Medical Assistant Salary Outlook Through 2024
Anytime over 100,000 jobs are going to be added to any field it is something that causes a stir. Medical Assistants are becoming a very highly sought after piece of the medical and healthcare equation.
What positions are being hired and at what rate are always changing in today’s healthcare world. And the CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) is one of the positions that is growing. See what we are talking about below:
| Certified Medical Assistants | Data from www.bls.gov |
|---|---|
| 2015 Median Annual Salary | $30,590 |
| 2015 Median Hourly Wage | $14.71 |
| Entry-Level Education Requirement | Postsecondary non-degree award |
| Total Employment in 2014 | 591,300 |
| Employment Change by 2024 | 138,900 |
| Percent Change in Employment | 23% |
How Can You Increase Your Salary as a Medical Assistant?
Graduating from an associates degree program will be the first place where you can make a higher pay. Employers will in most cases, view you as a higher qualified hire and start you at a higher rate of pay. Also, the degree opens you up for more specialized positions that may require more training and education. The average rate is $5,000 a year higher with a degree than a certificate.
Why is the Growth in CMA Salary Happening?
The growth is happening due to the demand for qualified medical assistants. Computers have changed everything across the globe and healthcare facilities are some of the biggest benefactors of that change. With that change though, employers are hiring differently. And CMAs are now being seen as imperative to the process due to their flexibility and ability to manage the computer software and adhere to change. Which is constant.
The new changes to healthcare make them even more desirable. Many employers are using their assistants for billing and coding too! Getting a medical assistant certification opens a lot of doors. With a little experience, the transition in to nursing, billing and coding and transcription positions is made a lot easier with the work experience gathered as a medical assistant. With all of this great information, it just means the time is now to get started as a CMA Certified Medical Assistant! No table or graph is going to doing anything more than show you it is a good idea. it is now your turn to make that change and become a medical assistant soon!
Top Cities for Medical Assistant Pay
| City and Surrounding Area Name | Employment # | Employment # per 1K jobs | Avg. Hourly Pay | Avg. Yearly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | 4,180 | 4.29 | $20.76 | $43,180 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 850 | 4.59 | $20.46 | $42,560 |
| San Francisco, CA | 4,150 | 3.82 | $19.61 | $40,800 |
| Oakland, CA | 5,420 | 5.28 | $19.38 | $40,310 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 610 | 6.86 | $19.37 | $40,300 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 150 | 4.3 | $19.32 | $40,180 |
| Rochester, MN | 350 | 3.4 | $19.12 | $39,780 |
| Boston, MA | 9,330 | 5.2 | $19.02 | $39,570 |
| Anchorage, AK | 900 | 5.13 | $18.58 | $38,640 |
| Seattle WA | 5,930 | 3.97 | $18.25 | $37,960 |