Medical Assistant Salary Maryland

Medical assistance as a career is considered to be the best stepping stone into the world of healthcare.

Medical Assistants are healthcare workers that provide support services to nurses, physicians, and other healthcare professionals. The general job duties of a medical assistant include both clinical and administrative tasks.

If you want to become a medical assistant, you might have come across the average salaries offered nationally to them.

So how much do medical assistants make in Maryland?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for medical assistants in Maryland is $41,310 or $19.86 per hour.

Compared to the national average salary offered to medical assistants, which is around $38,190, the salaries offered to medical assistants in the state of Maryland are significantly higher.

See more on: What is a Medical Assistant?

Medical Assistant Salary & Job Outlook in Maryland

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that the expected job growth for medical assistants is expected to increase by 16% by the year 2031, which is far higher than other professions that have an average job growth rate of 5%.

Maryland also offers a significantly higher-than-average salary for medical assistants, making it an ideal state to work in as a medical assistant.

See: Medical Assistant Job Outlook

Let us further see how the salary figures in Maryland compared to the figures of other states, cities within Maryland, and other professions in the next few sections.

Read more: Certified Medical Assistant Salary

Medical Assistant Salary in Maryland as Compared to Other States

Like in any other industry, the salaries offered to medical assistants also differ depending on various factors, such as experience, skills, and certifications.

See: 12 Reasons to Become a Medical Assistant

Another such influencing factor is the job location, and medical assistants are paid differently in every state.

Let us see how the figures compare with other states and Maryland for medical assistants.

First, let’s see some states that pay medical assistants a higher salary than Maryland:

• Washington- $22.82 hourly or $47,460 annually
• Minnesota- $22.56 hourly or $46,920 annually
• Massachusetts- $22.06 hourly or $45,880 annually
• Oregon- $21.97 hourly or $45,710 annually
• New York- $20.24 hourly or $42,100 annually

You might be tempted to move to one of the above-mentioned high-paying states after looking at the figures. However, you should also bear in mind the cost of living, moving, and other living expenses of each state before you decide to move there.

Now, let us take a look at some states that pay medical assistants a lower salary than Maryland:

• Louisiana- $14.17 hourly or $29,470 annually
• Mississippi- $14.31 hourly or $29,760 annually
• Alabama- $14.38 hourly or $29,920 annually
• Arkansas- $14.41 hourly or $29,970 annually
• Kentucky- $16.06 hourly or $33,410 annually

Medical Assistant Salaries Offered in Different Cities Within Maryland

The salaries for medical assistants also differ within each city in Maryland.

Let us take a look at the salary figures:

• Baltimore – $44,051 annually or $19.04 hourly
• Annapolis – $43,417 annually or $18.77 hourly
• Ocean City – $39,768 annually or $17.19 hourly
• Frederick – $41,714 annually or $18.03 hourly
• Rockville – $44,709 annually or $19.32 hourly
• Silver Spring – $47,542 annually or $20.55 hourly
• Salisbury – $39,609 annually or $17.12 hourly
• Bel Air – $39,800 annually or $17.20 hourly
• Maryland City – $48,780 annually or $21.08 hourly
• Bethesda – $47,699 annually or $20.62 hourly

It is important to emphasize that the above-mentioned salary figures have been pulled from job board sites, such as indeed.com, and hence they are subject to change.

There was no government data available for medical assistant salary figures within Maryland state.

Do Certified Medical Assistants Make More Than Uncertified Ones in Maryland?

Pennsylvania does not generally require medical assistants to be certified or licensed, however, employers highly prefer candidates who are certified.

Also see: Medical Assistant License

This is because obtaining a certification shows your passion for the job role, in addition to implying that you have the relevant required knowledge and medical assistant skills.

Certified medical assistants additionally earn 10% more than uncertified ones. Obtaining a certification also gives medical assistants further opportunities to grow as medical assistants and also helps them get promoted earlier.

Completing your medical assistant training via an online certification program is highly recommended since it helps you get certified as a medical assistant faster. You can become a medical assistant and get certified in as little as 6 months.

Once you complete your medical assistant program, you can opt for any of the three legitimate certification exams, namely, the CCMA, RMA, and CMA certifications.

Also see: Accelerated Medical Assistant Program

Medical Assistant Salary in Maryland vs Other Professions

Medical Assistants tend to make a decent salary starting out as compared to other professions. There are definitely higher-paying jobs and industries out there, however, almost all of them require additional training or advanced degrees.

Let us take a look at the salaries of medical assistants vs other professions with similar educational requirements-

• Cashiers- $29,410
• Personal Care Helpers or Home Health Professionals- $32,770
• Bank Tellers- $39,560
• Medical Assistants- $40,010
• Medical Technicians (Emergency)- $41,120

Also read: Medical Assistant Educational Requirements

Now, let’s also compare the salaries of medical assistants to that of professions that require advanced degrees and more years of schooling:

• Medical Assistants- $40,010
• Registered nurses- $88,530
• Physician Assistant- $141,790
• Medicine Physician- $223,220
• Surgeon- $242,330

While core healthcare professionals are evidently paid significantly higher salaries than medical assistants, it is to be noted that medical assisting is considered to be the best headstart in the field of healthcare.

Additionally, all the other listed professions require years of schooling and training in addition to advanced degrees, as compared to medical assistants that only require to be certified.

Also see: Is Medical Assistant Degree Required?

A career in medical assistance further allows you to grow as a healthcare worker, where you can have the option of evolving your job profile and earning a degree after gaining relevant experience to become a physician, registered nurse, or other similar healthcare professional.

Also see: How to get Medical Assistant jobs with no experience

How To Increase Your Chances of Getting Paid Higher as a Medical Assistant in Maryland

As is true for every profession, there are certain skills and courses you can undertake to improve your CV and your knowledge and skill set, that would make you shine in front of the employers.

Let us take a look at a few such skills that can increase your chances of getting paid higher as a medical assistant-

• Obtaining your medical assistant certification –

  This is one of the most important aspects of becoming a medical assistant, in addition to being the minimum prerequisite that employers look for in potential candidates.

• Completing an EKG/ECG course-

  Medical assistants working under cardiologists can be required to complete a course on EKG, which will help them assist the physician in reading the patient’s heart rhythm to detect any abnormalities.

Also read: Where Can Medical Assistants Work?

• Completing a Phlebotomy course-

  Drawing blood is one of the most important and common duties of a medical assistant. Completing a phlebotomy course will tell employers that you are skilled at drawing blood efficiently.

Also see: Medical Assistant Job Duties

• Keeping yourself updated on the recent technologies and updates-

  The field of healthcare is an ever-evolving one. To become a valued employee and medical assistant, you will need to stay updated with any recent technologies or procedures being used in your practice.

• Completing a Medical billing or coding course-

  One of the major aspects of a medical assistant’s job also includes administrative tasks, and you can take up medical billing to become more efficient.

• Learning another  language-

  Maryland is a diverse state, with English, Chinese, and French speakers, among others. You can take up a second language to communicate better with patients coming in from different backgrounds and ethnicities.

Also see: How to Become a Medical Assistant?

Additional Resources:

• How Long Does it Take to Become a Medical Assistant?
• CMA vs CNA
• Medical Assistant Interview Questions
• Medical Assistant Scope of Practice by State
• Medical Assistant Programs Cost
• Is Medical Assistant a Good Career?
• Medical Assistant Certificate Requirements
• National Certified Medical Assistant NCMA
• Medical Assistant Degree Online 6 Weeks
• Medical Assistant Courses