Medical Assistants

Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed

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.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $45,690/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$36,050$59,310

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +12.5% projected growth, 2024–2034 — much faster than average.

About 112,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills

Social PerceptivenessSpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMonitoringCoordinationService OrientationWritingActive Learning

Top knowledge areas

English LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryAdministrativeComputers and ElectronicsEducation and TrainingPublic Safety and SecurityTherapy and Counseling

Core 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.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Medical Assistants?

The median pay for Medical Assistants is $45,690 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Medical Assistants?

Employment for Medical Assistants is projected to change +12.5% from 2024 to 2034 - much faster than average.

What education is typically required for Medical Assistants?

Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.

How many job openings are there each year for Medical Assistants?

About 112,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.