Did you know that U.S. News highly ranked 34 New York hospitals? Some of the top-ranking New York hospitals were located in Albany, Buffalo, and New York City.
Becoming a medical assistant can give you a prime opportunity to work in some of the most prestigious hospitals in the state and country. As you consider several health careers, you may start asking, ‘how much do medical assistants make?’
You want a fulfilling career that can pay the bills and has room for growth. Luckily, we have put together a complete guide on how much you can expect to make as a medical assistant and how to find the best courses. Are you still interested?
Keep reading for more information!
What Is a Medical Assistant?
A medical assistant is a type of health care professional that helps in a medical clinic. They assist the doctor directly through various medical assistant job tasks, such as:
- Showing patients to exam rooms
- Checking vitals
- Checking weight and/or height
- Performing patient history check
- Asking about current symptoms or health concerns
- Drawing blood
- Dispensing medications
- Removing stitches
- Dressing bandages
- Assisting physician with exams
A medical assistant job is divided into two main functions: administrative and clinical. Clinical work includes some of the tasks listed above. Administrative work can also include scheduling appointments, answering phones, updating medical records, billing, and more.
How Much Do Medical Assistants Make?
Data from 2020 shows that over 700,000 medical assistants were employed. The median hourly wage was $17.23, and the annual medical assistant salary was $35,850.
Yet, if you want to be a medical assistant in New York, you may see slightly different wages based on where you live, your experience, your work setting, and more. A certified medical assistant salary in a physician’s office is higher than working in assisted living communities.
The highest paying industry for medical assistants is working directly for junior colleges, and you could make over $10,000 more than the average salary rate. The highest employment rate for medical assistants is in the metropolitan regions of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Working as a medical assistant in New York, you can average closer to $40,000 per year. This equates to an average hourly wage of $19.24.
How Can You Increase Your Salary?
Increasing your medical salary in New York starts with gaining a certification. If you want to expand your clinical work, you could continue your education through phlebotomy courses, ECG technicians, CNAs, and cardio-phlebotomy technicians.
Having more specialties can make you more profitable, and many online medical assistant courses provide different tiers of education you can choose from.
Job experience also pays dividends. You may have to sacrifice pay for getting your feet wet (so to speak) to build rapport, experience, and negotiate higher pay. With that in mind, some facilities may pay significantly more than others, so don’t be afraid to apply to different job settings.
On average, outpatient hospitals and private physician practices will pay more. If you feel stuck in a rut, consider broadening your horizon. More certifications can make you a more competitive employee when applying to hospitals or private offices.
Where You Work in New York
Where you work in New York can change your salary and hourly wage. For example, Rochester, New York, pays closer to $34,600 for medical assistants. The Albany, NY, salary is slightly higher at $34,840.
Check into your local regions and research salaries in different settings. If you find similar places that offer a higher wage, you can often use that for a counter offer.
How To Become a Medical Assistant
If you want to become a medical assistant in New York, you need to start your education and training today. Phlebotomy Career Training (PCT) offers various medical training and certifications. PCT is a licensed proprietary school and accredited.
Many national organizations also accredit PCT, and you only need a high school GED or diploma. Almost 95% of graduates currently work in the field. Yet, you may be skeptical after seeing that PCT is located in Michigan.
Don’t worry – we offer plenty of online courses that can suit your needs in New York and help you get into the field and work more quickly. PCT provides five different courses listed Tier I thru Tier V.
It is 100% online, and you must be 18 years or older. A GED or high school diploma is encouraged before you start the course.
Course Topics and Requirements
The medical assistant courses include 1,200 hours of materials covering various clinical and administrative topics. After completing the course topics, you will sit for a Medical Assistant Certification Exam.
A medical internship is also required for being a medical assistant. If you have previous experience, you may opt-out of the internship. Otherwise, you’ll need 204 supervised and signed clinical hours.
Medical Assistant Job Outlook
Becoming certified in a health career is an excellent career choice. Being a medical assistant can open the doors for continuing your education in nursing, medical school, and more. As a standalone career, it can provide steady income since health care job outlooks are promising for the next decade.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects an over 15% growth in this sector. That equates to more than 2.5 million jobs during the next ten years.
Find Your Next Career
If you live in New York and have been considering a health care job, you may wonder, ‘how much do medical assistants make?’ While not as high-paying as skilled surgeons and physicians, a medical assistant is a great job for helping you gain medical experience in little to no time.
At PCT, we offer credentialed health programs, including medical assistants. If you want to find your next career, we have you covered with our highly experienced teachers and user-friendly courses. Check out our website and find a course that works for your schedule!
Nancy L. Kimmel obtained her PhD in Environmental Engineering in 2002, then went on to teach Physics and Mechanical Engineering at Lawrence Technological University, Henry Ford College and Oakland University. She obtained her Associate in Nursing from Henry Ford College and then went on to earn her Master Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner and became Board Certified working as a licensed FNP in the State of Michigan. She then went on to Medical School where she is now in her 3rd year, and is also in the process of obtaining her Doctorate in Nursing Practice through Chamberlin University. She has authored the NET Study Guide, as well a several books on subjects of Math, ECG/EKG and Phlebotomy. She holds a patent on an Air Filter through the U.S. Patent Office.