How Much Does A Medical Assistant Make?

The salary for a medical assistant depends on a number of factors, which includes the medical assistant’s educational background, experience, health care facility work at, and location.

According to the AAMA 2011 Medical Assisting Salary Survey, average gross salary for certified medical assistants (CMAs) is $29,460. This is a national average, so it might be more or less depending on your area. The average gross pay for non-certified medical assistants is $26,568. The survey found that certified medical assistants were paid roughly 10% more than non-certified medical assistants.

The same study also revealed that employers are paying higher wages for CMAs at $29,460 an average annual salary, over a non-certified medical assistant at only $26,568 an average annual salary. Additionally, they are increasingly demanding that their medical assistants have a CMA.

Average Gross Pay Depends On Health Care Facility

The survey revealed that there are slight salary differences based on where a certified medical assistant works. For example, average pay for certified medical assistants in physicians offices or other managed care facility is $14.74 per hour; whereas average pay in an emergency and outpatient hospital departments, was $15.18 per hour. Check the complete survey for more details on average salaries by work setting.

Average Gross Pay Depends On Years Of Experience

There is sometimes a $10,000 difference between a beginning certified medical assistant and a CMA with 16+ years experience. The best type of medical facility for higher pay (based on years of experience) is in a Emergency and outpatient hospital department or medical and surgical specialties.. The lowest pay is found within primary care physician's offices. This information is based on the 2011 AAMA survey, and doesn’t apply to specific health care facilities in your area.

Average Gross Pay By Geographic Region

As mentioned above, salary depends on your location. The salary survey reveals that the highest paid certified Medical Assistants live in the Pacific region, followed by the Mid-Atlantic region. The southern states seem to pay medical assistants less than the national average. Check the survey for complete details.

Other Medical Assisting Career Benefits

Most health care facilities will also offer their staff a variety of benefits to encourage employees to stay with the company. Some of these benefits or coverage might include:

• Major Medical/Dental/Vision Plan
• Prescription discount
• Professional Liability
• Disability

This is just a list of some common benefits offered by many health care companies. Benefits vary by organization so check with them on what is offered during the interviewing process. These side benefits are wonderful additions to any competitive medical assistant's salary.

This article is merely giving averages and may not reflect the pay or benefits in your area.

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