How Much Does a Medical Administrative Assistant Make?
A medical administrative assistant helps healthcare facilities with day-to-day operations. They perform tasks related to patient scheduling, health record management, insurance claim processing, and more. If you’re considering this type of role, you may be wondering what the pay looks like. Here we provide information about an administrative medical assistant’s wages, including national median pay and mean pay by state, factors that impact pay, and more.
Medical Administrative Assistant Wages (Annually, Hourly, and Monthly)
The national median annual wage for medical secretaries and administrative assistants as of May 2021 was $37,450 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), or $18.01 per hour.1 As the median, half of all medical administrative assistants nationally make less than this amount, and half make more. The monthly wages for a full-time medical administrative assistant working 40 hours per week and earning the median national wage is approximately $3,120.83. A part-time medical administrative assistant working fewer hours would make less per month.
The BLS adds that the bottom 10% of earners (lowest decile) in this role earned $29,040 per year or less while the top 10% of earners (highest decile) have an income of $53,630 or more.1 UMA’s graduates in the 2021-2022 cohort of its Medical Administrative Assistant diploma program and Health Sciences – Medical Administrative Assistant degree programs reported to UMA that they earned a median hourly wage that is approximately at or slightly higher than the BLS’s lowest decile.2
These numbers represent gross pay, which is the amount paid before all necessary deductions are taken out, such as those related to state and federal taxes.
Medical Administrative Assistant Wages by State
The mean (average) annual wage for medical administrative assistants varies depending on the state in which they work. Here is a breakdown of the mean medical administrative assistant pay by state:1
| State | Mean Annual Wages |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $37,280 |
| Alaska | $42,460 |
| Arizona | $39,010 |
| Arkansas | $33,780 |
| California | $46,400 |
| Colorado | $38,410 |
| Connecticut | $43,790 |
| Delaware | $38,680 |
| Florida | $35,800 |
| Georgia | $39,090 |
| Hawaii | $40,190 |
| Idaho | $38,060 |
| Illinois | $38,990 |
| Indiana | $37,220 |
| Iowa | $35,950 |
| Kansas | $35,960 |
| Kentucky | $34,030 |
| Louisiana | $35,220 |
| Maine | $39,620 |
| Maryland | $40,740 |
| Massachusetts | $46,130 |
| Michigan | $36,630 |
| Minnesota | $43,790 |
| Mississippi | $31,260 |
| Missouri | $37,410 |
| Montana | $35,420 |
| Nebraska | $37,640 |
| Nevada | $40,290 |
| New Hampshire | $41,620 |
| New Jersey | $42,810 |
| New Mexico | $35,390 |
| New York | $42,560 |
| North Carolina | $36,120 |
| North Dakota | $39,480 |
| Ohio | $36,080 |
| Oklahoma | $35,110 |
| Oregon | $44,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,770 |
| Rhode Island | $45,560 |
| South Carolina | $35,070 |
| South Dakota | $41,540 |
| Tennessee | $34,570 |
| Texas | $36,390 |
| Utah | $36,670 |
| Vermont | $40,770 |
| Virginia | $41,730 |
| Washington | $47,170 |
| West Virginia | $34,980 |
| Wisconsin | $38,800 |
| Wyoming | $36,460 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,980 |
| Washington D.C. | $47,880 |
Becoming a Medical Administrative Assistant
Some secretaries and administrative assistants only need a high school diploma to start working in the field, and they train on-the-job to learn healthcare terms and practices.3 Others entering the field may choose to obtain post-secondary training in healthcare terms and practices before seeking a position.
Other Factors That Can Impact a Medical Administrative Assistant’s Pay
A medical administrative assistant’s pay can be impacted by several factors beyond the state in which they work. These additional factors can include:4
- Tasks that are assigned
- Certifications and other professional credentials
- Level of experience
- Skill level
- Workplace performance
Medical Administrative Assistant Job Outlook
Medical administrative assistant jobs are projected to increase by 8% between 2021 and 2031, which equates to approximately 53,600 new positions.5 The BLS cites that the main reason for this growth – even when all other types of secretaries and administrative assistant roles are expected to decline – is the growth of the healthcare industry as a whole.
The primary factor contributing to healthcare industry growth is an aging population.6 So, more medical administrative assistants will be needed to handle the needs of this demographic.
Ready to Pursue Training for a Career as a Medical Administrative Assistant?
If you’d like to train to work in a medical administrative assistant role, Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) offers both a Medical Administrative Assistant diploma program and a Health Sciences – Medical Administrative Assistant degree program. Both are available online, enabling you to study from the comfort of your home.
Core medical administrative assistant courses teach you about medical terminology, coding, healthcare communication, and more. The diploma program can be completed in 11 months and the degree program in 18 months. Both include preparation to sit for the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam upon meeting eligibility requirements.
If you’re not sure whether a medical administrative assistant career is the right option for you, UMA also offers numerous other healthcare programs and degrees. No matter which one you choose, we are here to support you in your career pursuits.
Want one-on-one academic support? We can do that. Need help finding a job? We can help with that, too – even connecting you with one of our healthcare employer partners.
UMA has a mantra of care: we care for you so you can care for others. Enroll at UMA and you can experience this level of care firsthand.
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates. May 2021. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm
2 UMA’s 2021-2022 graduate earnings estimate is based on wage information obtained for UMA’s graduates from the cohort. Earnings information was typically obtained by a self-report from the graduate, and occasionally from the graduate’s employer or other sources.
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. How to Become a Secretary or Administrative Assistant. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm#tab-4
4 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Same Occupation, Different Pay: How Wages Vary. https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
5 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. Job Outlook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm#tab-6
6 Completion time varies depending on individual student.
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About the Author
Christina DeBuskChristina DeBusk is a freelance writer who has been providing health and wellness content to healthcare organizations such as the American Chiropractic Association and International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) since 2011. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Central Michigan University, minoring in psychology. She has also earned several ISSA certifications, including Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Specialist, achieving the status of Elite Trainer.
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