Medical Assistants
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
- O*NET-SOC code
31-9092.00 - Preparation Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$45,690
Employment, U.S.817,870
Median hourly wage$21.97
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,050 | $38,470 | $45,690 | $49,180 | $59,310 |
By state (51)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 13,300 | $36,100 | 1.20 |
| Alaska | 2,140 | $52,560 | 1.25 |
| Arizona | 21,460 | $45,940 | 1.26 |
| Arkansas | 5,150 | $37,760 | 0.75 |
| California | 117,060 | $49,660 | 1.22 |
| Colorado | 13,160 | $48,400 | 0.87 |
| Connecticut | 10,250 | $47,430 | 1.15 |
| Delaware | 2,880 | $44,490 | 1.13 |
| District of Columbia | 2,260 | $51,050 | 0.61 |
| Florida | 66,110 | $43,680 | 1.27 |
| Georgia | 28,780 | $41,600 | 1.12 |
| Hawaii | 3,890 | $48,410 | 1.18 |
| Idaho | 5,250 | $44,700 | 1.16 |
| Illinois | 20,260 | $46,090 | 0.63 |
| Indiana | 19,630 | $45,110 | 1.17 |
| Iowa | 5,990 | $45,480 | 0.73 |
| Kansas | 5,510 | $39,510 | 0.73 |
| Kentucky | 13,440 | $39,270 | 1.28 |
| Louisiana | 12,310 | $36,320 | 1.21 |
| Maine | 4,480 | $47,580 | 1.33 |
| Maryland | 16,390 | $46,410 | 1.13 |
| Massachusetts | 14,880 | $49,460 | 0.78 |
| Michigan | 27,810 | $39,870 | 1.20 |
| Minnesota | 10,580 | $50,480 | 0.68 |
| Mississippi | 3,340 | $35,360 | 0.55 |
| Missouri | 13,050 | $40,440 | 0.85 |
| Montana | 2,460 | $46,820 | 0.92 |
| Nebraska | 2,380 | $47,370 | 0.44 |
| Nevada | 7,760 | $45,200 | 0.95 |
| New Hampshire | 3,000 | $48,020 | 0.83 |
| New Jersey | 20,330 | $47,210 | 0.90 |
| New Mexico | 5,400 | $39,230 | 1.18 |
| New York | 40,710 | $48,000 | 0.80 |
| North Carolina | 23,650 | $45,140 | 0.91 |
| North Dakota | 600 | $45,980 | 0.27 |
| Ohio | 28,950 | $42,810 | 0.99 |
| Oklahoma | 10,510 | $38,750 | 1.17 |
| Oregon | 11,840 | $50,410 | 1.14 |
| Pennsylvania | 23,050 | $43,920 | 0.72 |
| Rhode Island | 3,210 | $47,190 | 1.22 |
| South Carolina | 12,110 | $41,160 | 1.00 |
| South Dakota | 1,340 | $41,870 | 0.56 |
| Tennessee | 19,180 | $39,570 | 1.11 |
| Texas | 75,340 | $39,520 | 1.02 |
| Utah | 9,990 | $45,360 | 1.09 |
| Vermont | 1,140 | $47,250 | 0.72 |
| Virginia | 16,650 | $44,740 | 0.77 |
| Washington | 19,500 | $59,290 | 1.04 |
| West Virginia | 4,540 | $37,180 | 1.23 |
| Wisconsin | 13,810 | $48,680 | 0.89 |
| Wyoming | 1,040 | $40,920 | 0.70 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 3 | 0.976 |
| 2 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 3 | 0.963 |
| 3 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 3 | 0.962 |
| 4 | Phlebotomists | 3 | 0.961 |
| 5 | Registered Nurses | 4 | 0.958 |
| 6 | Pharmacy Technicians | 3 | 0.958 |
| 7 | Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 3 | 0.957 |
| 8 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 3 | 0.957 |
| 9 | Dental Assistants | 3 | 0.956 |
| 10 | Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 3 | 0.956 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Medical Assistants, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | Quality Control Analysis | 1.25 | 0.957 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | Coordination | 0.88 | 0.957 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Medical Assistants, excluding software Medical Assistants already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| EyeMD EMR Healthcare Systems EyeMD EMR | 3 of 20 | 46.2x |
| Scheduling software | 6 of 20 | 4.0x |
| Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR | 3 of 20 | 7.7x |
| JavaScript | 4 of 20 | 2.2x |
| Zoom | 3 of 20 | 2.7x |
| FileMaker Pro | 3 of 20 | 1.5x |
| Microsoft Windows | 5 of 20 | 1.0x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 3.50 | 3.25 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.50 | 3.12 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.38 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Science | Essential skill | 2.62 | 2.25 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.38 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 2.50 | 2.25 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.38 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.38 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.38 | 2.25 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 1.75 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 1.38 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 1.25 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.12 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 1.38 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 1.00 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 1.62 | 0.75 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.50 | 0.75 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 4.80 | 3.96 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.53 | 5.77 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 4.33 | 3.79 |
| Administrative | 4.11 | 4.57 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.79 | 4.34 |
| Education and Training | 3.50 | 3.58 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.19 | 2.48 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 3.04 | 3.10 |
| Psychology | 2.95 | 3.38 |
| Administration and Management | 2.87 | 2.72 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.78 | 2.25 |
| Mathematics | 2.73 | 1.84 |
| Law and Government | 2.44 | 2.01 |
| Biology | 2.38 | 2.39 |
| Foreign Language | 2.32 | 1.82 |
| Communications and Media | 2.19 | 1.58 |
| Economics and Accounting | 2.11 | 2.02 |
| Chemistry | 2.11 | 1.71 |
| Telecommunications | 2.07 | not rated |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 2.00 | 1.61 |
| Sales and Marketing | 1.87 | 1.78 |
| Physics | 1.70 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.69 | not rated |
| Production and Processing | 1.50 | not rated |
| Transportation | 1.50 | not rated |
| Design | 1.49 | not rated |
| Mechanical | 1.49 | not rated |
| Geography | 1.41 | not rated |
| Engineering and Technology | 1.40 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.40 | not rated |
| Building and Construction | 1.39 | not rated |
| Food Production | 1.39 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.39 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Comprehension | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Oral Expression | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Written Comprehension | 4.00 | 3.75 |
| Near Vision | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.88 | 3.25 |
| Written Expression | 3.75 | 3.62 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.75 | 3.12 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.50 | 3.50 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Information Ordering | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Number Facility | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Time Sharing | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Far Vision | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Memorization | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Selective Attention | 2.75 | 2.88 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Originality | 2.75 | 2.75 |
| Trunk Strength | 2.62 | 2.25 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.50 | 2.62 |
| Visualization | 2.38 | 2.12 |
| Control Precision | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Manual Dexterity | 2.25 | 2.25 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.25 | 2.12 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Static Strength | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Stamina | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Response Orientation | 2.00 | 1.38 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 2.00 | 1.25 |
| Extent Flexibility | 1.88 | 1.75 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 1.88 | 1.62 |
| Depth Perception | 1.88 | 1.38 |
| Dynamic Strength | 1.88 | 1.25 |
| Reaction Time | 1.88 | 1.12 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 1.75 | 0.75 |
| Rate Control | 1.62 | 0.75 |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.50 | 0.62 |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Explosive Strength | 1.25 | not rated |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.25 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.25 | not rated |
| Sound Localization | 1.25 | not rated |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Epic Systems in demand
- Microsoft Office software in demand
- Intuit QuickBooks hot
- MEDITECH software hot
- Microsoft Access hot
- Microsoft Excel hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft PowerPoint hot
- Microsoft SharePoint hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- eClinicalWorks EHR software hot
- Appointment scheduling software
- Billing software
- Bookkeeping software
- Business software applications
- Data entry software
- Database software
- Diagnostic and procedural coding software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Email software
- GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- IDX Systems Patient Chart Tracking
- Medical condition coding software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Microsoft Exchange
- Microsoft SharePoint Server
- Microsoft Windows Vista Business
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
- Patient management software
All 32
- Visual electro diagnostic software
- Web browser software
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | 1,510 | 2.83 | $38,550 |
| Gadsden, AL | 450 | 2.57 | $34,250 |
| Wildwood-The Villages, FL | 520 | 2.40 | $40,910 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 410 | 2.20 | $37,780 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 2,440 | 2.11 | $43,180 |
| Sebring, FL | 300 | 2.05 | $37,750 |
| Pocatello, ID | 400 | 2.01 | $37,610 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | 1,000 | 2.00 | $38,400 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 570 | 1.94 | $40,240 |
| Medford, OR | 900 | 1.93 | $48,820 |