How to Become a Medical Assistant
Blend clinical and administrative work in physician offices: vitals, injections, records, and scheduling. It typically requires a postsecondary certificate, with a median salary of $45,690 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$45,690/yr
Middle half
$38,470 to $49,180
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
112,300
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Vital Signs
- Clinical Procedures
- Medical Records
- Patient Communication
- Scheduling
Helpful certifications
- CMA (AAMA Certified Medical Assistant)
- RMA
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
0/100
Work-life balance
64/100
Stress level
69/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Pharmacist$140,910 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Medical Assistant make?
The median pay for a Medical Assistant is $45,690 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $38,470 and $49,180 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Medical Assistant?
The usual entry point is a postsecondary certificate. Common majors are Medical Assisting and Health Sciences.
Is Medical Assistant a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 112,300 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Medical Assistant use most?
Common skills for this role are Vital Signs, Clinical Procedures, Medical Records, Patient Communication, and Scheduling.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).