How much do medical support assistants make at the VA?

Medical support assistants make $39,870 a year, on average ($20,02 per hour). However, medical support assistant salaries at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can range from $33,873 to $56,318 a year. Factors such as the position and location can impact how much a medical support assy can make.

Is a medical support assistant the same as a medical assistant?

Yes, a medical support assistant is the same as a medical assistant. Medical support assistants, also known as medical assistants, work primarily in medical facilities, such as hospitals, medical clinics, and doctors' private practices, to perform administrative duties and organize patients' data and schedules.

What is a medical support assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Candace Keck

A medical support assistant works to provide administrative and clerical support to medical staff. They schedule appointments, maintain patient records, answer phones, and greet patients. They may also assist in billing and coding, as well as managing supplies and equipment. In addition, medical support assistants help with patient care by taking vital signs, collecting samples, and preparing exam rooms. They ensure the smooth operation of healthcare facilities by providing essential support to medical professionals.

What general advice would you give to a medical support assistant?

Candace Keck

Clinical Assistant Professor, Website

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.

ScoreMedical Support AssistantUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $35,390

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.2

Growth rate -8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.37%

Asian 3.77%

Black or African American 9.57%

Hispanic or Latino 11.96%

Unknown 3.77%

White 70.56%

Gender

female 75.11%

male 24.89%

Age - 51

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 51

Stress level

7.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.7

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

9.3

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a medical support assistant?

Pros

Opportunities for advancement
Stable job with a growing demand
Flexible schedules available
Good entry-level job for those interested in healthcare
On-the-job training often available

Cons

Can be physically demanding with long hours on your feet
May need to work nights, weekends, and holidays
Exposure to infectious diseases and hazardous materials
Low pay compared to other healthcare positions
Burnout is a common issue in the field

Key steps to become a medical support assistant

Explore medical support assistant education requirements

Most common medical support assistant degrees

Bachelor's

38.6 %

Associate

29.2 %

Certificate

8.7 %

Start to develop specific medical support assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	17.99%
Patient Care	9.26%
Advanced Life Support	7.29%
Veterans	6.79%
Customer Service	5.86%

Complete relevant medical support assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New medical support assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a medical support assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real medical support assistant resumes.

Gain additional medical support assistant certifications

Medical support assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific medical support assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for medical support assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

More About Certifications

Research medical support assistant duties and responsibilities

Provide pharmaceutical services to Medicaid recipients through manage care organizations and fee-for-service programs.
Coordinate front and back office tasks such as checking in and checking out patients, triage, and insurance verification.
Assist with enrolling patients into the TRICARE online website so patients can access appointments remotely from any web enable device.
Analyze patients' financial information to recommend suitable programs and lifesaving aid for both veterans and eligible family members.

Prepare your medical support assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your medical support assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a medical support assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable medical support assistant resume templates

Build a professional medical support assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your medical support assistant resume.