Becoming a medical administrative assistant is a great choice for people who want to earn a decent living, have a great work schedule, get experience in the healthcare industry, and make a difference in the lives of others.
If you are searching for an in-demand job where you can start earning money quickly, you may be interested in becoming a medical office assistant.
So, what is the average medical administrative assistant salary?
Nationally, medical administrative assistants earn $43,380 per year, or about $20.85 per hour, on average.
Of course, this varies based on where you live, experience, specialty, and whether or not you have earned a certification.
This guide will go over the average salaries of medical office assistants, including in states and major cities, and how to earn more money as a medical administrative assistant.
Medical Administrative Assistant Salary Overview
In the United States, medical administrative assistants earn $43,380 per year, or about $20.85 per hour, on average. When looking at median earnings, they earn $40,640 per year, or $19.54 per hour.
Medical administrative assistants without experience make $31,900 per year, or $15.34 per hour, on average. Medical administrative assistants earning the most money bring home $58,340 per year or $28.05 per hour.
There are several factors that can affect medical administrative assistant salaries. These include:
- Job location. Working in larger cities often means you will earn a higher hourly wage.
- Certification. Earning a certification—such as the CMAA—as a medical administrative assistant can make you a more competitive job applicant and will allow you to ask for a higher salary.
- Type of office. The type of office you work in makes a big difference in how you will be paid as a medical administrative assistant. Hospitals typically pay the most, while dentist’s offices typically pay the lowest salaries.
- Specialty certificates. Medical administrative assistants are paid more when they have additional training or certifications, such as medical coding and billing.
- Years of experience. Similarly to all other jobs, organizations are willing to pay their employees more when they have more experience and show long-term loyalty to a company.
Medical Administrative Assistant Salary by State
Medical Administrative Assistant Salary by City
Do Medical Administrative Assistants Make Good Money? Comparison of Similar Professions
When compared to other healthcare professions with similar education requirements, medical office assistants earn a decent living.
Other healthcare careers that do not require an associate degree include:
- Medical assistants: $42,000 ($20.19) – You can compare medical assistants and medical administrative assistants here.
- Pharmacy technicians: $40,300 ($19.37)
- Phlebotomists: $41,810 ($20.10)
- Nursing assistants: $38,130 ($18.33)
People working these comparable jobs typically have similar salaries to medical administrative assistants.
Receptionists not working in healthcare earn about $35,840 per year, which is significantly less than administrative medical assistants.
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Better Medical Administrative Assistant Salary
While medical administrative assistants usually earn more than other similar healthcare and reception-type jobs, you will still want to do everything you can to increase your salary.
The following tips can help your full earning potential as a medical administrative assistant:
Get Certified
The best way to ensure a higher salary as a medical administrative assistant is to earn your certification.
Medical office assistants can be ready to take the certification exam in as little as four months. Online programs and technical colleges make preparing to earn a certification extremely affordable.
According to the National Healthcareer Association, up to 93% of employers prefer to hire allied health professionals who have been certified in their trade, and 63% of employers state that they would increase pay for a current employee who earned a new certification.
The most popular medical administrative assistant certification is the CMAA by the NHA.
Earn Extra Certifications
Having a medical administrative assistant certification does not mean you know everything that can help you become a more valuable member of the healthcare team.
Many healthcare organizations will increase pay with each additional certification earned by their medical administrative assistants.
Medical administrative assistants can also earn certifications such as medical billing and coding, medical receptionist, CPR, or Certified Customer Service Professional.
Specialize
There are certain medical administrative assisting specialties that are more lucrative than others. In general, medical administrative assistants in hospitals are paid more than those who work in dentists’ offices.
Some medical office assistants specialize further in surgical centers or specialty hospitals, meaning they can ask for an even higher starting wage.
Stay on the Top of the Industry & New Technologies
Medical administrative assistants who have been working the same job for some time may feel like they have reached the top of their earning potential.
Fortunately, healthcare is continually changing and improving, and medical office assistants can make themselves more valuable to an organization by staying on top of the industry and new technologies.
Seek Opportunities for Advancement
After gaining a few years of experience, medical office assistants start to learn a lot about how a healthcare facility runs. With a lot of focus and hard work, you may eventually be able to climb the ladder and become an office manager.
Medical office managers can earn as much as $110,680 per year. Many medical office managers do have a bachelor’s degree, but higher education is not typically a strict requirement.
Relocate
If you feel that your salary is not what it should be, you may have to relocate to a higher-paying city or state. Big cities tend to have higher wages than more rural areas but be careful because the cost of living also increases in these areas.
If you choose to relocate for a higher salary, consider the cost of housing, food, and transportation in these areas.
It's important to note that job titles for medical administrative assistants may be different in other locatons. They may be called medical secretaries, medical receptionists, or medical office assistants.
Educate Others
Teaching other medical administrative assistants is a great way to increase your earning potential. You may choose to become a medical administrative assistant instructor through a college or training program or become a new employee trainer at a medical office or hospital.
