Medical Assistant--Career Opportunities

Medical assistants held about 387,000 jobs in 2004. About 6 out of 10 worked in offices of physicians; about 14 percent worked in public and private hospitals, including inpatient and outpatient facilities; and 11 percent worked in offices of other health practitioners, such as chiropractors, optometrists, and podiatrists. The rest worked mostly in outpatient care centers, public and private educational services, other ambulatory health care services, State and local government agencies, employment services, medical and diagnostic laboratories, and nursing care facilities.

Employment growth will be driven by the increase in the number of group practices, clinics, and other health care facilities that need a high proportion of support personnel, particularly the flexible medical assistant who can handle both administrative and clinical duties. Medical assistants work primarily in outpatient settings, a rapidly growing sector of the health care industry.

Employers prefer to hire experienced workers or certified applicants who have passed a national examination, indicating that the medical assistant meets certain standards of competence. The American Association of Medical Assistants awards the Certified Medical Assistant credential and the American Medical Technologists awards the Registered Medical Assistant credential.

Medical assistants may be able to advance to office manager. They may qualify for a variety of administrative support occupations or may teach medical assisting. With additional education, some enter other health occupations, such as nursing and medical technology.
The earnings of medical assistants vary depending on experience, skill level, and geographic area. In 2004 the national annual salary for medical assistants ranged from $18,330 to $37,860. In 2005, the mean annual salary for medical assistants in Illinois was $28,060.

Consistent with trends reported nationally, employment opportunities for medical assistants are expected to increase in and near Moraine Valley’s district. For assistance in preparing for and conducting a job search, as well as for information on current employment opportunities, contact the Job Placement Center in the Center for Contemporary Technology, T904, at (708)-974-5737 or visit their website at www.morainevalley.edu/jpc.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Medical Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos164.htm (visited August 26, 2006)..