What does a Medical Assistant do?
Medical assistants are caregivers who support doctors or healthcare professionals mainly in clinics or medical offices. They assist with administrative and clinical duties like taking a patient's history and personal information, scheduling appointments, answering the phone or even checking a patient's vitals. Medical assisting is one of the fastest-growing careers because of the growing elderly population and the surge in doctors' offices and outpatient care facilities.
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Working as a Medical Assistant
Depending on the specific role, a medical assistant's duties may vary, in fact, each day may be very different, and that is why many people love being a medical assistant. But, almost every medical assisting position will include the following tasks:
- Welcoming patients, taking their medical history and filling out medical records
- Answering the phone, filling out medical insurance forms, handling correspondence and bookkeeping related tasks
- Scheduling appointments, arranging for hospital admission or laboratory services
- Teaching patients about special diets, medication and treatment procedures
- Preparing patients for their examination and then assisting the doctor during the examination
How much does a Medical Assistant make in the United States?
Average base salary
Most common benefits
The average salary for a medical assistant is $19.94 per hour in the United States. 76.9k salaries reported, updated at May 21, 2022.
Where can a Medical Assistant earn more?
Compare salaries for Medical Assistants in different locations
How much do similar professions get paid in United States?
Certified Medical Assistant
48,446 job openingsAverage $18.86 per hour
Clinical Assistant
105,068 job openingsAverage $18.92 per hour
Medical Office Assistant
148,186 job openingsAverage $17.48 per hour
Medical Scribe
3,428 job openingsAverage $16.21 per hour
Medical Receptionist
84,740 job openingsAverage $16.59 per hour
Back Office Medical Assistant
80,838 job openingsAverage $17.75 per hour
Common questions about for a Medical Assistant
What are the types of medical assistants?
The three basic types of medical assistants are:
- Clinical medical assistants
- Administrative medical assistants
- General medical assistants
Where can a medical assistant work?
A medical assistant can work in:
- Drug clinics
- Medical offices
- Hospitals
- Patients' homes
- Outpatient facilities
- Surgical and operating centers
What is the hardest thing about being a medical assistant?
The hardest thing about being a medical assistant is when unexpected clinical and administrative emergencies arise during a shift.
