The 5 Top Places for Medical Assistants to Work

If you’ve been looking into how to become a medical assistant, you’ve likely already begun to wonder about where medical assistants work. After all, they are trained in both clinical and administrative duties, which means there is no one type of environment they work in.

The truth is, these healthcare professionals can work in many different settings, including hospitals, clinics, private practices, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.

Life as a medical assistant: what you need to nnow

The medical assistant job outlook is projected to experience a 16% growth rate over the next 10 years, a speed that is significantly faster than the majority of industries. 

This healthcare field is growing faster than employers can keep up with, and the high demand for these healthcare professionals means there’s never been a better time to start your career.

Medical assistance is a great option for aspiring healthcare professionals who want to work with people in the medical industry, but don’t have any relevant education or experience yet. 

If you’re compassionate, organized, able to juggle multiple tasks at once, have strong communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills, and are passionate about serving others, then this is a viable career path for you. 

What is the average medical assistant salary?

A medical assistant’s salary will depend on a variety of factors, including location, your level of experience, existing qualifications (or lack thereof) and of course, the employer.

Typically, the hourly wage for medical assistants starts out around $13 an hour ($30,000 annually), but can go as high as $23 an hour (nearly $50,000 a year). In 2021, the median annual salary for medical assistants in the United States was $38,000, which is around $18 an hour.

The industries where medical assistants are paid the most are the federal government and outpatient care centers, both of which pay between $40,000 and $45,000 annually. The medical assistants who are in the top 10% of the industry, however, earn upwards of $50,000 per year, but you can only reach this level after years of experience and a strong portfolio to prove it.

What are the top hiring states for medical assistants?

While there is a national shortage of healthcare workers, you still have the ability to be picky in terms of the state you choose to work in and the specific medical setting (such as a hospital).

Some states have more medical assisting jobs available than others (due to population, a high demand, city growth rate, and more), which means if you’re looking for a high-paying job in medical assistance, these are the states you need to consider first.

The top eight states for medical assistants are California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and North Carolina.

What are the top settings for medical assistants to work?

Now that you know the best states to work in, it’s time to take a closer look at the exact kind of healthcare environment you want to work in. It may change as your career evolves, so don’t worry about choosing a “forever” location right now; all you need to choose is a place to start.

1. Hospitals

Hospitals are one of the most common medical settings people think of when they think of healthcare professionals. There are currently over 100,000 medical assistants employed in general hospitals across the country, and through hospitals, these assistants tend to make around $18 an hour, or $38,000 annually. 

2. Outpatient clinics

Outpatient clinics are medical facilities that are run by a specialist doctor, which means working in this environment will have a general shared “theme” you’re working with, both in terms of the patients and your administrative duties. These clinics currently have around 60,000 medical assistants employed, and these specialist assistants tend to make around $17 an hour, or $36,000 annually.

3. Private practices

A private practice is an independently run business by self-employed physicians. These physicians tend to make more than doctors in conventional medical settings due to the fact their salary is no longer limited by the government or divided amongst other costs. In addition, physicians with their own practice tend to have a small support staff, which means you’ll likely earn more as well; assistants in this setting typically make around $18 an hour, or $38,000.

4. Long-term care facilities

Long-term care is defined as residential care that’s provided to individuals who need assistance care for themselves, such as those with disabilities or the elderly. As a medical assistant in this field, you could work in nursing homes, assisted living centers, retirement communities or adult family homes. These assistants tend to make around $15 an hour, or $33,000 annually.

5. Telehealth settings

Telehealth is not entirely a new service, but it’s one that definitely saw a surge in need of workers during 2020 and 2021, when it became the preferred (and at times, only) form of healthcare available. There are estimated to be around 50,000 medical assistants actively working in the telehealth setting, and these assistants tend to make around $15 an hour, or $33,000 annually.

At the end of the day, the best place for you to work is going to depend on your personal preferences and career goals.

Which healthcare setting is right for me?

While there is no “right” or “wrong” environment for a medical assistant to work in, there are going to be settings that you enjoy more than others, or that you especially thrive in. 

If you aren’t sure which environment is best for you, here are some factors to consider:

• Your lifestyle (do you prefer nights or mornings? Slow living or busier days?)
• The work schedule (full-time or part-time, night shifts versus day shifts)
• The location (this could be a state in general, or a specific part of a downtown city)
• The benefits offered by the employer (if they match your needs)

There may be additional personal factors to keep in mind, such as if you have children, are going to be moving soon or other important areas of your life you’ll need to navigate.

How do I become a medical assistant?

The most straightforward path to becoming a medical assistant is to have a high school diploma or GED, receive a relevant education through a medical assistant training program, and become certified.

Step 1: Have a high school diploma or GED 

To become a medical assistant, you need to first obtain the necessary education, which is typically to have either a high school diploma or GED. While this isn’t enough to land you a job in and of itself, having this foundational education is what will enable you to proceed to the next level of education.

Step 2: Complete a medical assistant training program

While college degrees (usually an associate’s degree for medical assistance) are the most traditional education model, increasingly more adult learners are choosing to enroll in medical assistant training programs. This is because training programs (like bootcamps) are great at preparing you to be job-ready upon graduation — for a fraction of the cost of college, and at a much faster rate (typically less than six months).

Step 3: Become a certified assistant

Do you have to be certified to get hired as a medical assistant? The answer varies, depending on where you live. Some states require all clinical medical assistants to be certified prior to employment, but in most states, it’s optional.

We recommend pursuing a certification regardless of your state requirements, because being a certified medical assistant (CMA) is not only an effective way to set yourself apart from other candidates, but also because having a certification is a preference of many employers, even in states where it isn’t required.

Step 4: Practice through hands-on training

The best way to immerse yourself in a new field — without inundating yourself with all of the pressure to perform as an employee — is to enroll in an apprenticeship or externship. These post-bootcamp programs are ideal for professionals who possess the technical, practical knowledge of their career, but haven’t yet been able to apply that knowledge in the “real world.” 

As an added bonus, many employees are choosing to offer their top-performing apprentices full-time employment upon completion of the apprenticeship program.

Step 5: Start applying for jobs

Once you’ve completed a training program, obtained a certification and applied your knowledge in the real world through on-the-job training, it’s time to start applying for jobs. With ongoing support from career coaches and mentors, you’ll find a rewarding medical assistant job within months.

Take your first step today

Health Tech Academy is a premier training provider that’s proud to offer you a Medical Assistant Training Program that’s designed to help you hit the ground running after graduation.  You’ll be equipped with all of the knowledge, training, tools, and confidence you need to pursue a rewarding career that also brings in your ideal salary.

Send us a message today to get started.