Medical Assistant Job Growth and Salary Potential

It’s no secret that the aging population and innovations in technology are reshaping the U.S. health care landscape. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has positive forecasts for the health care field in general, which includes long-term opportunities for medical assistants. In fact, the field of health care is expected to grow at an impressive 19 percent — more than twice the national average of 7 percent. However, the BLS predicts job growth for medical assistants to be 16 percent, more than three times the national average.

As far as salary potential goes, the BLS reports that professionals with medical assistant training earned an average median wage of $37,190 per year. This can be earned with completion of a medical assistant certificate, diploma or associate degree in this field. There are plenty of medical assistant schools across the nation that can help you qualify for this growing role in health care. Once you become a medical assistant and start getting some experience, you can point your career trajectory in many directions. For instance, you can continue your education to eventually become a nurse at a hospital or at a specialized care facility, or you can move into more administrative roles. With innovation and new technology changing the way care is delivered, who knows what the future will bring when it comes to professional opportunities?

How Do We Help You Become a Medical Assistant?

Imagine America works with career colleges and trade schools across the U.S. to help all kinds of students pursue job training. If you qualify, you could earn up to $1,000 in scholarship money to be used toward your tuition at our partner schools. If you’re ready to compare medical assisting programs, request information from our partner schools in your area today!

We also have a growing library of resources and a Road Map to Student Success that you can follow while you complete your medical assistant training. We’ll stay connected to you throughout your program, giving you full access to our ever-expanding library of study tips, financial aid advice and more!

Where Can a Medical Assistant Career Lead?

What we love about the field of health care in general is that it offers such a wide variety of career paths students can map. Whether your goal is to work as a hospital nurse, diagnostic medical sonographer, or in an administrative or other role, medical assistant training is a good place to start.

In your medical assistant classes, you’ll likely take a variety of knowledge-based and hands-on courses. Some of your courses might be online, such as medical terminology. But you’ll need to understand how to perform certain functions, such as taking vital signs, recording patient histories and operating equipment. Assisting physicians and making patients feel comfortable are two very important functions of this position. Pay special attention when you review medical assistant schools for these kinds of job skills.

What is medical assistant training like?

Medical assistants juggle more tasks than ever before. They have to learn a balance of clinical and administrative skills. Your coursework will include basic knowledge, such as anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, and other foundational topics. Your clinical lab and externship (if available) will give you opportunities to practice using equipment and simulations that can prepare you to assist physicians with confidence.

Ready to select your medical assistant school?

If you want to find out about medical assistant programs in your area, use our listing tool to choose your medical assistant school. Be sure to request information from several schools that offer your program of interest. When you’re done, download our mobile app and start your scholarship application!

Not interested in a medical assistant school? Click here for a list of our other programs.