CFChooseField
Office and Administration

Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

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

$44,640
Median annual pay for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

4.2%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

85,900
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

850,000
Estimated U.S. employment for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+35,300
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical additional preparation: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
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. 1Speaking
  2. 2Active Listening
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Critical Thinking
  5. 5Writing
  6. 6Monitoring

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Customer and Personal Service
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Administrative
  4. 4Medicine and Dentistry
  5. 5Personnel and Human Resources
  6. 6Computers and Electronics

Abilities

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

Career interests

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

Work styles

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

Work activities

  1. 1Working with Computers
  2. 2Processing Information
  3. 3Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
  4. 4Getting Information
  5. 5Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  6. 6Performing Administrative Activities

Work context

  1. 1Telephone Conversations
  2. 2Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  3. 3E-Mail
  4. 4Contact With Others
  5. 5Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
  6. 6Spend Time Sitting

Representative tasks

  • Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff.
  • Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
  • Complete insurance or other claim forms.
  • Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff.
  • Transmit correspondence or medical records by mail, e-mail, or fax.
  • Maintain medical records, technical library, or correspondence files.
  • Receive and route messages or documents, such as laboratory results, to appropriate staff.
  • Interview patients to complete documents, case histories, or forms, such as intake or insurance forms.

Software and tools

Henry Schein Dentrix · in demandMicrosoft Excel · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandIntuit QuickBooks · hot technologyMEDITECH software · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyGoogle Docs · hot technologyEpic Systems · hot technologyMicrosoft Outlook · hot technologyeClinicalWorks EHR software · hot technologyMicrosoft Windows · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technology

Sources

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

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