# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-assistants
- SOC code: 31-9092.00
- Career family: Healthcare support
- Median annual pay: $45,690 (10th percentile $36,050, 90th percentile $59,310)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +12.9%
- Openings a year: 109,700
- Typical entry education: Postsecondary certificate
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CSR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 51 |
| Investigative (I) | 47 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 63 |
| Enterprising (E) | 16 |
| Conventional (C) | 79 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 97/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 92/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 91/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 90/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 90/100)
- Processing Information (importance 87/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 86/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 86/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 85/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 83/100)

## Skills

Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Coordination, Monitoring, Service Orientation, Writing, Active Learning

## Knowledge

English Language, Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry, Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training, Public Safety and Security, Therapy and Counseling, Psychology, Administration and Management

## Also called

Autopsy Assistant, Bilingual Medical Assistant, Cardiology Medical Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Chiropractic Assistant, Chiropractor Assistant, Client Services Coordinator, Clinic Assistant, Clinic Medical Assistant, Clinical Medical Assistant

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Health and Medical Administrative Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5107) (CIP 5107, 1,585 colleges)
- [Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5108) (CIP 5108, 1,063 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $143,686 | $11,000 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $44,456 | $110,204 | not reported |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $92,810 | not reported |
| [Baptist Health System School of Health Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/college/baptist-health-system-school-of-health-professions-175) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $60,194 | $85,145 | not reported |
| [Stonehill College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stonehill-college-2610) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $82,254 | not reported |
| [Loyola University Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/loyola-university-chicago-1551) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $59,113 | $82,040 | $25,000 |
| [CUNY Graduate School and University Center](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-graduate-school-and-university-center-737) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $61,698 | $81,184 | $15,460 |
| [Oregon Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oregon-institute-of-technology-2034) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | not reported | $80,944 | $27,820 |

## Related careers

- [Surgical Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/surgical-assistants): $66,800 median pay
- [Ophthalmic Medical Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ophthalmic-medical-technicians): $45,570 median pay
- [Registered Nurses](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/registered-nurses): $97,550 median pay
- [Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses): $64,400 median pay
- [Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/cardiovascular-technologists-and-technicians): $74,310 median pay
- [Physical Therapist Aides](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-therapist-aides): $35,240 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.