Medical Assistants
SOC code 31-9092 · O*NET-SOC 31-9092.00 · Medium preparation needed · Healthcare
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth and numerous job openings for this occupation
Medical assisting is one of the fastest entry routes into a clinical career — most programs take under a year, and the role mixes patient contact with administrative work. Pay is modest at the start, but it is a common stepping stone into nursing and other licensed roles.
Medical Assistants pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$45,690
a year
Hourly
$21.97
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$46,120
$22.17 per hour
Middle 50%
$38,470 – $49,180
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$36,050 – $59,310
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
817,870
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $36,050
- $17.33/hr
- 25th percentile
- $38,470
- $18.50/hr
- Median percentile
- $45,690
- $21.97/hr
- 75th percentile
- $49,180
- $23.65/hr
- 90th percentile
- $59,310
- $28.52/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+12%
Growing much faster than average
811,000
jobs in 2024
912,200
projected for 2034
About 101,200 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does a medical assistant do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- 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.
How to become a medical assistant
Most people in this role hold post-secondary certificate — 45% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Post-Secondary Certificate45%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)21%
- Bachelor's Degree17%
- Some College Courses17%
Common questions
How much does a medical assistant earn?
The national median is $45,690 a year. The full range runs from $36,050 at the 10th percentile to $59,310 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a medical assistant without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Is medical assistant in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 12% between 2024 and 2034 — growing much faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Reading Comprehension3.8/5
- Critical Thinking3.6/5
- Monitoring3.5/5
- Writing3.4/5
- Active Learning3.3/5
Knowledge areas
- English Language4.8/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.5/5
- Medicine and Dentistry4.3/5
- Administrative4.1/5
- Computers and Electronics3.8/5
- Education and Training3.5/5
- Public Safety and Security3.2/5
- Therapy and Counseling3.0/5
Transferable strengths: Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation.