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Medical Assistant

$45,690
median pay per year
$36,050 – $59,310
what most earn (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Take vital signs, record histories, prepare patients, and handle clerical tasks in clinics and offices.

Where you work

Doctors' offices and clinics; on your feet, steady patient contact.

The hours

Usually full-time; some evenings and weekends.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$45,690
per year
What most earn
$36,050–$59,310
10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~112,300
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+12%
Much faster than average
Working in the U.S.
817,870
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Certificate program

Training path: ~1-year certificate.

License or certification

No license required in most states; certification such as CMA or RMA helps.

What it takes

CompassionAttention to detailCommunicationOrganization

The honest take

Every clinic needs them — a common first rung to nursing.

Standard Occupational Classification 31-9092. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.