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Job outlook for hospital medical assistants in the United States
Hospital medical assistant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected hospital medical assistant job growth rate is 16% from 2018-2028.
About 117,800 new jobs for hospital medical assistants are projected over the next decade.
Hospital medical assistant salaries have increased 14% for hospital medical assistants in the last 5 years.
There are over 493,138 hospital medical assistants currently employed in the United States.
There are 164,640 active hospital medical assistant job openings in the US.
The average hospital medical assistant salary is $35,545.
Are hospital medical assistant jobs in demand?
Hospital medical assistant job and salary trends over time
Hospital medical assistant jobs over time
Hospital medical assistant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 493,138 | 0.15% |
| 2020 | 481,240 | 0.14% |
| 2019 | 482,751 | 0.14% |
| 2018 | 456,480 | 0.14% |
| 2017 | 437,954 | 0.13% |
Average hospital medical assistant salary over time
Hospital medical assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,545 | $17.09 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $34,504 | $16.59 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $33,324 | $16.02 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | $32,203 | $15.48 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $31,271 | $15.03 | +3.1% |
Hospital medical assistant jobs by state
Most common states for hospital medical assistants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 273 | 36% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,376 | 35% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,941 | 35% |
| 4 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 473 | 35% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,265 | 31% |
| 6 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 568 | 31% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 302 | 31% |
| 8 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 218 | 31% |
| 9 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 1,907 | 29% |
| 10 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 561 | 29% |
| 11 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 308 | 29% |
| 12 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 488 | 28% |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 3,490 | 27% |
| 14 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 2,771 | 27% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 968 | 27% |
| 16 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 798 | 27% |
| 17 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 357 | 27% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 1,511 | 26% |
| 19 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 278 | 26% |
| 20 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 3,224 | 25% |
Most common cities for hospital medical assistants
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa City | 3 | 4% | $34,902 |
| 2 | Jamestown | 1 | 3% | $38,781 |
| 3 | Napa | 2 | 2% | $43,088 |
| 4 | Alpharetta | 1 | 2% | $29,206 |
| 5 | Coeur dAlene | 1 | 2% | $34,597 |
| 6 | La Mesa | 1 | 2% | $42,959 |
| 7 | Clearwater | 1 | 1% | $30,555 |
| 8 | Johns Creek | 1 | 1% | $29,201 |
| 9 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $29,246 |
| 10 | Baltimore | 2 | 0% | $38,297 |
| 11 | New York | 2 | 0% | $40,641 |
| 12 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $30,473 |
| 13 | Fremont | 1 | 0% | $43,290 |
| 14 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $43,243 |
Hospital Medical Assistant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of hospital medical assistant experts
Midstate College
Pennsylvania State University - Hazleton
Merrimack College
Bellevue College
What general advice would you give to a Hospital Medical Assistant?
Candace Keck: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical assistants is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. This positive job outlook ensures future job opportunities and career stability.
What Hospital Medical Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Candace Keck: Depending on the area where the medical assistant works, such as clinic vs hospital vs care facilities, the day-to-day duties can vary. The commonality, no matter the location, is they work closely with providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses, to name a few) and other healthcare professionals to deliver patient care. It can involve direct patient care and administrative work. They need to have strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a compassionate approach to patient care.
What will help Hospital Medical Assistants increase their earning potential?
Candace Keck: I don't have an answer to this question. I'm not scheduled to work in the hospital any time soon so would not have the opportunity to ask.
What general advice would you give to a Hospital Medical Assistant?
Eve Leija AAS, NCMA: To maximize salary for a medical assistant obtaining certification from one of the credentialing organizations such as American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) can make a new hire more competitive. Continuing educations along with developing any specialized skills such as phlebotomy. Demonstrating professionalism initiative and reliability, along with gaining a strong reference from previous employers.
What Hospital Medical Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Eve Leija AAS, NCMA: Flexibility is a must in healthcare. You must be flexible with your job functions, time and most importantly your patients. You must be able to pivot with little to no notice and be ready and wiling to assist anyone in your clinic; providers, co-workers, patients, etc.
What will help Hospital Medical Assistants increase their earning potential?
Eve Leija AAS, NCMA: To meet the demands of evolving healthcare and provide high-quality care to patients technological proficiency (EHR systems, Telehealth support), clinical skills (any skills that can enhance what you’ve learned in school. Phlebotomy, point of care testing devices), communication and soft skills (adaptability, problem-solving, empathy and compassion) are a must. I feel a lot of the younger generation lacks the soft skills needed in healthcare/professional jobs. Administrative skills and patient care and safety (infections control and chronic disease management).
What general advice would you give to a Hospital Medical Assistant?
Shanna Chapman DNP, FNP-C, FAANP, APRN: People like being a nursing assistant for a lot of reasons similar to those listed in #2. It is rewarding and gives the nursing assistant a sense of purpose. It gives them the opportunity to directly impact patients. There is a large variety of settings that the nursing assistant can choose to work in and there is definitely job stability. There is a high demand that will not be dissolving with an increase in the baby boomer population into geriatrics. There is opportunity for the knowledge gained to be utilized if the nursing assistant wants to go to nursing school and a lot of nurses will use it as a stepping stone to learn. The dislikes about being a nursing assistant is that it can be mentally and physically challenging. Some facilities may work shorthanded causing the nursing assistant to have higher patient loads resulting in stress as well as physically challenging. I also recommend that nursing assistants do their research on the facility before applying for a job. Make sure that the facility expectations, mission, and values are congruent with the nursing assistant's personal beliefs.
What general advice would you give to a Hospital Medical Assistant?
Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA): -LIKE- People who enjoy working as a Medical Assistant do it because they get a
great satisfaction from help other people. They are often the first contact with the
patient in the medical facility, which sets the tone for the rest of the visit.
They feel good making sure that their patients have the right information that they
need, the appropriate medical care they need, and helping patients feel better.
Good problem-solving skills, compassion, understanding, patience and keeping
up with a fast-paced office is very rewarding.
-DISLIKE- Some Medical Assistants have determined that there are
area/tasks/etc. that they dislike, listed below are some of these things:
You’re always around people who are sick
Long work hours can include 10 or 12-hour days
Lower starting salary, which is usually based on education and
experience level
Having to deal with stressful situations and difficult patients
Dealing with patients who are angry, cranky, anxious or not feeling well
Working under pressure from extremely tight deadlines
What Hospital Medical Assistant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA): duties vary, depending on the medical office/hospital/urgent/specialty clinics
where they are employed. Below are some specific job duties that are very
common in the day-in-the-life of a Medical Assistant (these duties include, but
are not limited to the following):
Greeting patients and checking them in at the Waiting room window
Collecting vital signs from patients
Answer phones as needed
Assist with scheduling patient appointments
Data entry of patient information in an electronic medical record (EMR)
Using various computer applications
Transmitting prescription refills
Insurance coding & billing
Obtain or completing procedures for preauthorizations/hospital
admissions/outside testing/etc.
Collecting specimens for Point-of-Care testing or send outs to reference
labs
Venipuncture/Examination Assistance to provider/other duties as needed
What will help Hospital Medical Assistants increase their earning potential?
Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA): Medical Assistants
have become a vital member to any health care team! Below are some specific
educational areas and training that a face-to-face or hybrid Medical Assistant
Program offers and what students will do on a daily basis (or during class and lab
sessions) that will help provide training quality assurance: (these are just some of
the areas of training and education that students will receive in an CAAHEP
(Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) accredited
Medical Assistant Program:
Interacting with patients
Hands-on training with hypodermic needles used for injections and
venipuncture
Using other medical equipment like the various thermometers, pulse
oximeter, EKG machine, nebulizer, etc.
Experience with scheduling/accounting/EMR software applications
Students learn and practice many clinical procedures like patient transfers,
wound care, disease transmission prevention, completion of various
requisitions for medical testing, emergency procedures, caring for adult
and pediatric patients, and much more.
Students also learn and practice Pharmacology procedures which include
medication administration, adult and pediatric medication dosing,
medication uses, side effects/adverse effects/toxicity/etc.
Laboratory Procedures allows students to learn and practice how to
perform Point-of-Care testing, venipuncture, laboratory testing results,
urinalysis, etc.
Finally, Students will complete a Medical Assistant Program Externship at
a medical office/hospital/urgent care/specialty clinic to practice the skills
and training in real life.
Jamie Myers
Education Program Associate, Allied Health CoordinatorPennsylvania State University - Hazleton
Continuing Education Department
What skills stand out on Hospital Medical Assistant resumes?
Jamie Myers: Bilingual, Phlebotomy, EKGs.
What soft skills should all Hospital Medical Assistants possess?
Jamie Myers: Critical thinking, problem-solving, dependability.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Hospital Medical Assistants?
Jamie Myers: Computer skills.
What skills will help Hospital Medical Assistants earn the most?
Jamie Myers: Bilingual, Phlebotomy, and Computer.
Comora Sarah
Assistant Clinical ProfessorMerrimack College
Nursing Department
What skills stand out on Hospital Medical Assistant resumes?
Comora Sarah: Experience in the industry, Dementia training, BLS certification
What soft skills should all Hospital Medical Assistants possess?
Comora Sarah: Ability to effectively communicate with all patients and interdisciplinary team members, willing to be flexible with shifts and scheduling, a team player with a great work ethic.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Hospital Medical Assistants?
Comora Sarah: Ability to accurately take and record vital signs, safe patient mobility practice, and ability to assist clients with activities of daily living.
What skills will help Hospital Medical Assistants earn the most?
Comora Sarah: CNA are paid differently across the industry and in different settings. From an education and training perspective in CNA onboarding, it is more beneficial to an organization to hire candidates that have demonstrated the soft set of skills mentioned. The theory is that in the position of Certified Nursing Assistant, hard skills can be taught, and competency can be achieved after hire if you have the right candidate for your organization and team.
What soft skills should all Hospital Medical Assistants possess?
Marina Orobinskaia: Friendliness, positive energy, leadership.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Hospital Medical Assistants?
Marina Orobinskaia: There are no more or less important skills. You need to learn all of them to excellence and what is most important - use your critical thinking when you do them.