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Healthcare Support

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Medical Assistants
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Median pay

$44,200
Median annual pay for Medical Assistants.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

12.5%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

112,300
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

811,000
Estimated U.S. employment for Medical Assistants in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+101,200
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Postsecondary nondegree award
Typical education needed to enter Medical Assistants.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Critical Thinking
  5. 5Monitoring
  6. 6Writing

Knowledge areas

  1. 1English Language
  2. 2Customer and Personal Service
  3. 3Medicine and Dentistry
  4. 4Administrative
  5. 5Computers and Electronics
  6. 6Education and Training

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Comprehension
  2. 2Oral Expression
  3. 3Written Comprehension
  4. 4Near Vision
  5. 5Problem Sensitivity
  6. 6Speech Recognition

Career interests

  1. 1Conventional
  2. 2Social
  3. 3Realistic
  4. 4Investigative
  5. 5Enterprising
  6. 6Artistic

Work styles

  1. 1Attention to Detail
  2. 2Dependability
  3. 3Cooperation
  4. 4Integrity
  5. 5Empathy
  6. 6Cautiousness

Work activities

  1. 1Getting Information
  2. 2Working with Computers
  3. 3Documenting/Recording Information
  4. 4Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  5. 5Assisting and Caring for Others
  6. 6Processing Information

Work context

  1. 1Contact With Others
  2. 2Exposed to Disease or Infections
  3. 3Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  4. 4Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
  5. 5Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
  6. 6Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

Representative tasks

  • Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
  • Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
  • Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
  • Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
  • Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
  • Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
  • Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
  • Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.

Software and tools

Microsoft Office software · in demandEpic Systems · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · hot technologyIntuit QuickBooks · hot technologyMicrosoft Excel · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyMEDITECH software · hot technologyMicrosoft SharePoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyeClinicalWorks EHR software · hot technologyMicrosoft SharePoint Server

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

ChooseField compares fields using public labor-market and professional sources.