Career-PathGPS
← All education and training
Career

Medical Assistants

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $45,690 Median per year · $21.97/hr Most earn $36,050–$59,310

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Schedule appointments for patients.
  • Change dressings on wounds.
  • Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
  • Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
  • Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.
  • Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth; Numerous Job Openings

United States
13% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 109,700 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of physicians55.6%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals16.1%
  • Offices of chiropractors3.4%
  • Offices of all other health practitioners2.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Medical Assisting is an entry-level job. Many people start after a high school diploma and a short medical assisting certificate program, and most gain about 6 months to 1 year of related experience early on.

  1. High school diploma or GED

    4 years

    Build a strong base in biology, math, and computers, and practice clear communication, since both office and clinical tasks depend on these skills.

  2. Medical assisting certificate or diploma program

    About 6 months to 1 year

    Learn medical terminology, insurance coding, scheduling, taking vital signs, and basic lab and exam room skills, often with a hands-on practice experience at a clinic.

  3. Medical Assistant

    Entry level; about 6 months to 1 year of related experience is typical early on

    You start working in a clinic or doctor's office, doing both front-office and clinical tasks under a physician's direction while you build experience.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Medical Assistant

    2-3 years of experience first

    You take on training new staff, coordinating schedules, and handling more complex patient care tasks, which usually requires strong organization and leadership skills.

  2. Ophthalmic Medical Technologist

    2-4 years of experience first

    You move into a specialized role working with eye exams and testing, which typically requires additional specialized training and experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology and health science classesThese courses introduce the body systems and medical terms you will use every day as a medical assistant.
  • Build computer and typing skillsOffice work in clinics relies on scheduling and record software, so strong typing and computer comfort help right away.
  • Volunteer at a hospital, clinic, or nursing homeVolunteering shows you the healthcare setting up close and gives you experience talking with patients and staff.
  • Get a starter job in customer service or front desk workGreeting people and handling calls builds the professional communication skills that medical offices value.

In college

  • Enroll in a medical assisting certificate or diploma programA focused program teaches the clinical and administrative skills most entry-level medical assistant jobs ask for.
  • Take anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology coursesThese classes give you the science background to understand patient care and communicate clearly with doctors and nurses.
  • Seek a clinical externship or internshipHands-on time in a real clinic lets you practice vital signs, patient prep, and records work while building your resume.
  • Work a campus job in a health office or student health centerFront-desk or records work on campus builds customer service and organizational skills that transfer to a medical office.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask your school or local clinics about job shadowing or volunteer shifts, since hands-on exposure helps you learn what the work feels like day to day.
  • Practice typing and learn basic electronic health record software, because most offices rely on computers for scheduling, billing, and charts.
  • Look for certification options your program offers, since many employers prefer or expect applicants to hold a recognized medical assistant credential.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

Related careers