Medical Assistant Demographics and Statistics In The US
Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for medical assistants in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- There are over 698,384 medical assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 89.6% of all medical assistants are women, while 10.4% are men.
- The average age of an employed medical assistant is 36 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of medical assistants is White (49.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (25.7%), Black or African American (10.2%) and Asian (8.8%).
- In 2021, women earned 97% of what men earned.
- 6% of all medical assistants are LGBT.
- Medical assistants are 89% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
Medical Assistant Statistics By Gender
89.6% of medical assistants are women and 10.4% of medical assistants are men.
- Female, 89.6%
- Male, 10.4%
Medical Assistants By Gender
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 89.6% |
| Male | 10.4% |
Gender Pay Gap For Medical Assistant
Women Earn 97ยข For Every $1 Earned By Men
Medical Assistant Gender Over Time
This data shows how men and women predominate in the medical assistant position over time.
Medical Assistant Gender By Year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 6.67% | 93.33% |
| 2011 | 8.50% | 91.50% |
| 2012 | 8.62% | 91.38% |
| 2013 | 9.18% | 90.82% |
| 2014 | 9.23% | 90.77% |
| 2015 | 10.92% | 89.08% |
| 2016 | 11.45% | 88.55% |
| 2017 | 10.59% | 89.41% |
| 2018 | 10.30% | 89.70% |
| 2019 | 11.99% | 88.01% |
| 2020 | 10.40% | 89.60% |
| 2021 | 10.39% | 89.61% |
Medical Assistant Male to Female Ratio
We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, delivery technician and donations attendant have the biggest difference in gender.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Pathology Transcriptionist | 3% | 97% |
| Radiology Transcriptionist | 5% | 95% |
| Certified Registered Dental Assistant | 5% | 95% |
| Medical Assistant | 10% | 90% |
| Dental Officer | 79% | 21% |
| Donations Attendant | 81% | 19% |
| Delivery Technician | 88% | 12% |
Medical Assistant Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among medical assistants is White, which makes up 49.4% of all medical assistants. Comparatively, there are 25.7% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 10.2% of the Black or African American ethnicity.
- White, 49.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 25.7%
- Black or African American, 10.2%
- Asian, 8.8%
- Unknown, 4.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
Medical Assistant Race
| Medical Assistant Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 49.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 25.7% |
| Black or African American | 10.2% |
| Asian | 8.8% |
| Unknown | 4.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.0% |
Medical Assistant Race And Ethnicity Over Time
Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among medical assistants.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Medical Assistant Race By Year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 55.77% | 11.01% | 6.62% | 22.98% |
| 2011 | 55.68% | 11.27% | 6.54% | 22.88% |
| 2012 | 54.36% | 11.97% | 6.36% | 23.26% |
| 2013 | 55.22% | 11.56% | 6.66% | 23.14% |
| 2014 | 55.48% | 11.06% | 6.26% | 23.84% |
| 2015 | 54.54% | 11.67% | 6.22% | 24.20% |
| 2016 | 53.29% | 10.20% | 6.99% | 25.22% |
| 2017 | 53.36% | 9.89% | 7.62% | 25.22% |
| 2018 | 52.32% | 10.41% | 7.01% | 26.10% |
| 2019 | 54.42% | 9.72% | 7.79% | 23.80% |
| 2020 | 52.65% | 9.87% | 8.33% | 23.64% |
| 2021 | 49.40% | 10.16% | 8.81% | 25.67% |
Medical Assistant Wage Gap By Race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $36,322 |
| White | $35,764 |
| Black or African American | $36,152 |
| Asian | $36,761 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $35,953 |
Medical Assistant JOBS
Average Age of a Medical Assistant
We determined the average age of medical assistants based on ethnicity and gender.
Medical Assistant Age By Race
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 35 | 37 |
| Unknown | 38.5 | 33.5 |
| Asian | 30 | 35 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 31 | 32.5 |
| White | 33 | 37 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 34.5 |
Medical Assistant Age Breakdown
This chart breaks down the ages of medical assistant employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of medical assistants is 40+ years old, which represents 37% of the population.
Medical Assistant Age
| Medical Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 37% |
| 30-40 years | 32% |
| 20-30 years | 30% |
Types of Medical Assistant Degree Levels
The most common degree for medical assistants is associate degree 24% of medical assistants earn that degree. A close second is diploma with 23% and rounding it off is bachelor's degree with 11%.
- Associate, 24%
- Diploma, 23%
- Bachelors, 11%
- High School Diploma, 9%
- Other Degrees, 33%
Medical Assistants By Education
| Medical Assistant Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Associate | 24% |
| Diploma | 23% |
| Bachelors | 11% |
| High School Diploma | 9% |
| Other Degrees | 33% |
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Medical Assistant Wage Gap By Education
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $35,960 |
| Master's Degree | $39,339 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $36,579 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $36,437 |
Medical Assistant Employment Statistics
This section highlights information about where medical assistants work. We found most medical assistants work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most medical assistants is the health care industry.
Company Size
We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire medical assistants.
Medical Assistant Jobs By Employer Size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 19% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 21% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 10% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 26% |
| > 10,000 employees | 19% |
The Types Of Companies Medical Assistant Work In
Employees with the medical assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most medical assistants prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Medical Assistant Jobs By Sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 5% |
| Private | 89% |
| Government | 2% |
Top Industries Hiring Medical Assistants
Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ medical assistants. Those industries include health care, professional and education.
Medical Assistant Industry Statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 78% |
| Professional | 5% |
| Education | 4% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Manufacturing | 1% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Medical Assistant Turnover And Employment Statistics
Medical Assistant Unemployment Rate Over Time
The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of medical assistants changed.
- Unemployment rate
Medical Assistant Unemployment Rate By Year
| Year | Medical Assistant Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.44% |
| 2011 | 8.37% |
| 2012 | 8.18% |
| 2013 | 6.70% |
| 2014 | 5.35% |
| 2015 | 5.12% |
| 2016 | 3.45% |
| 2017 | 3.55% |
| 2018 | 2.71% |
| 2019 | 2.49% |
| 2020 | 5.04% |
| 2021 | 3.86% |
The Average Number of Years That Medical Assistant Stay in a Job
By looking over 460,479 medical assistants resumes, we figured out that the average medical assistant enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 32%.
Medical Assistant Tenure
| Number or Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 30% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Medical Assistants with Other Job Titles
After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to medical assistants.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Orthodontic Assistant | 4.40% | 55,933 |
| Medical Assistant | 5.81% | - |
| Phlebotomy Program Coordinator | 7.76% | 75,445 |
| Transcriptionist | 8.65% | 270 |
| Certified Pharmacist Assistant | 9.41% | 118,993 |
| Laboratory Animal Caretaker | 9.55% | 45,979 |
| Massage Operator | 13.02% | 38,389 |
Medical Assistant LGBT Demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Orthodontic Assistant | 4.40% | 55,933 |
| Phlebotomy Program Coordinator | 7.76% | 75,445 |
| Transcriptionist | 8.65% | 270 |
| Certified Pharmacist Assistant | 9.41% | 118,993 |
| Laboratory Animal Caretaker | 9.55% | 45,979 |
| Massage Operator | 13.02% | 38,389 |
Foreign Languages Spoken By Medical Assistants
The most common foreign language among medical assistants is Spanish at 80.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 3.0% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 1.9%.
- Spanish, 80.7%
- French, 3.0%
- Portuguese, 1.9%
- Russian, 1.5%
- Arabic, 1.5%
- Other, 11.4%
Medical Assistant Languages Spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 80.7% |
| French | 3.0% |
| Portuguese | 1.9% |
| Russian | 1.5% |
| Arabic | 1.5% |
| Other | 11.4% |
Medical Assistant Jobs
Recently Added Medical Assistant Jobs
Medical Assistant Heatmaps
The amount you can make as a medical assistant can depend on where you live. For example, the highest salary of medical assistants is $41,630. Use our chart to find out where that salary is located.
Where Do Medical Assistants Earn The Most?
Medical assistants earn the most in Alaska, where the average medical assistant salary is $46,918. The map here shows where medical assistants earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.
Which State Has The Most Medical Assistants?
By looking through more than 460,479 resumes, we found that the most popular places for medical assistants are New York, NY and Houston, TX.
Number Of Medical Assistant Jobs By State
Where Are Medical Assistants In High Demand?
Medical assistants are in high demand in Seattle, WA. There are currently 346 job openings for medical assistants here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country medical assistants are in the most demand.
Medical Assistant Demographics FAQs
What Percentage Of Medical Assistants Are Female?
87.4% of medical assistants are female in the United States. This is -1.8 percentage points lower than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female medical assistants has decreased by -5.6 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 598,450 female medical assistants in the U.S. and 86,276 male medical assistants in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 684,726 people with the specific job title of medical assistant and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.