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If you’re interested in entering the healthcare industry as quickly as possible, medical assisting is the best career to step foot into.

Medical assistance is a highly rewarding career that has been emerging recently. A career in this field is believed to be a stepping stone into the field of healthcare.

Medical assistants are healthcare workers who assist specialized healthcare professionals such as physicians and nurses in different clinical and administrative tasks that are required.

Wonder why pursuing a career in medical assistance is the best? Here is the main reason: You Don’t Need a Degree!

Yes, you read that right. Compared to other healthcare careers, you don’t need a degree to start your career.

So how much exactly does a medical assistant in Massachusetts make annually?

The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) reports that the average annual wage of a medical assistant in Massachusetts is $44,200 or $21.25 per hour. 

So, you can see that the salary offered for medical assistants in Massachusetts is much higher than the national annual mean wage, which is $38,190 or $18.36 per hour.

Read: 12 Reasons to Become a Medical Assistant

Also see: Is Medical Assistant Degree Required?

Medical Assistant Job Outlook and Salary in Massachusetts

When it comes to job prospects and employment rates, medical assisting is a career that has high potential. According to the government data pulled by the BLS, the job growth for medical assistants is stated to be around 16 percent till the year 2031.

This is much higher than the expected 5 percent growth for all other professions, making medical assistance an ideal career for you.

Read more: Medical Assistant Job Outlook

Massachusetts is also reported to be one of the highest-paying states for medical assistants across the country, according to the BLS.

The salary offered by Massachusetts is almost 16 percent more than the national average certified medical assistant salary, so if you are living in this state, your chances of earning a higher-than-average salary are high.

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

Medical Assistant Salary in Massachusetts (Compared to Other States)

Location is one of the biggest influencing factors when it comes to the salaries offered for medical assistants across the country.

Let’s take a look at how the salary varies according to each state and how these figures compare to Massachusetts’.

Some states offer a higher salary for medical assistants than Massachusetts, such as:

  • Washington- $22.82 hourly or $47,460 annually
  • Minnesota- $22.56 hourly or $46,920 annually
  • Oregon- $21.97 hourly or $45,710 annually

Even though these above-mentioned states offer higher salaries, you can see that the difference is not that significant. You should also bear in mind the living costs and other daily expenses of living in each state before you consider moving to a higher-paying state.

Now, let’s see some states that offer a lower salary for medical assistants than Massachusetts:

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

These figures tell us that, in comparison, Massachusetts offers a higher salary than most states.

In addition, the job prospects and demand for medical assistants in Massachusetts are also on the rise, making it a favorable state to pursue a career in medical assistance. (Read More: What is a Medical Assistant)

Medical Assistant Salaries in Different Cities within Massachusetts

As mentioned earlier, job location plays an important part in the salaries offered for any profession. This holds for medical assistants also, with the salaries they are offered varying across each state as well as cities.

Let’s see how the salaries offered differ within each city in Massachusetts:

  • Boston- $22.48 per hour or $52,350 per year
  • Cambridge- $21.61 per hour or $50,318 per year
  • Salem- $19.98 per hour or $46,523 per year
  • Worcester- $20.35 per hour or $47,378 per year
  • Plymouth- $22.54 per hour or $52,459 per year
  • Lowell- $19.51 per hour or $45,417 per year
  • Springfield- $18.82 per hour or $43,812 per year

Do note that the above-mentioned figures can differ, as they have been pulled from various job board sites, such as indeed.com. There is no government data available for the salaries offered within each city in Massachusetts for medical assistants, and the figures may vary.

You can also choose to become a specialized medical assistant, such as a pediatric medical assistant.

Also read: Where can Medical Assistants Work?

Certified Medical Assistants vs. non-certified Assistants

Even though, like most other states, Massachusetts does not require medical assistants to be certified or licensed, employers have recently started to encourage and insist on hiring candidates who obtain their medical assistant certifications.

Medical assistants who are certified also tend to earn 10 percent more than uncertified ones. (Also read: Are Medical Assistant Licenses Required?)

With the steady rise in the number of patients and clinics across the country, the demand for knowledgeable and capable medical assistants is also increasing.

Since medical assistants generally work in clinics and hospitals, having a medical assistance certification shows employers that you are capable of handling clinical and administrative tasks efficiently.

So, the next question you would be wondering is

How to become a Medical Assistant?

In order to become certified, you will first need to complete your medical assistant training. You can do this by enrolling yourself in a medical assistant program, many of which are available both in offline and online settings.

Once you finish your training, you will need to sit for your certification exams, such as the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam held by the NHA.

Also see: Medical Assistant Certificate Requirements

Even though there are many options available, we highly recommend that you choose an online training program.

This is because of the many advantages that will benefit you, such as being able to complete your training much faster, at your own pace and schedule, and lower enrollment fees (See: Medical Assistant Programs Cost).

Here is more on: Medical Assistant On-the-Job Training

Do You Want To Become a Medical Assistant? Check Out Free Medical Assistant Masterclass!

In our masterclass you learn:

  • How to be a medical assistant faster…in just 4 months!
  • Avoid student debt & driving to classes
  • #1 thing employers want from Medical Assistants
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Annual Salary of Medical Assistants in Massachusetts as Compared to Other Professions

We spoke earlier about how medical assistance is the regarded best entry point in the field of healthcare. One has to complete a minimum of 4 years of schooling to enter other core fields of healthcare.

Hence, medical assistance is your best option if you want to enter this field as quickly as possible.

Let’s now compare the salaries offered to medical assistants with those offered to other professions that require the same education:

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

Also see: Medical Assistant Educational Requirements

Let’s also compare the salaries of medical assistants to those 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

Read more on: Medical Assistant Degree vs Certificate

You should also note that medical assistance is the fastest-growing career out there, with employment growth of nearly 16 percent, as stated by the BLS.

Also read: Is Medical Assistant School Hard?

Also see: Accelerated Medical Assistant Program

How to Earn Better as a Medical Assistant?

If you are interested in pursuing medical assistance as your career, you might be wondering how you can increase your chances of earning a higher salary.

Also see: Medical Assistant Career Path

Even though salaries generally differ across each state and city, among other factors, some medical assistants still earn much more than others.

How?

To answer shortly, by gaining all the relevant medical assistant skills and shining in front of employers.

Read on to find out how you can also become one of the higher-earning medical assistants:

  • Getting medical assistant certification – Obtaining your medical assistant certification is a requirement if you want to shine in front of employers. You can do so by clearing your CCMA exam held by the NHA.
  • Taking a course on EKG/ECG – ECG/EKGs are diagnostic tests that physicians use to detect any abnormalities in the electrical activity or heart rhythm of a patient. Taking a course in EKG/ACG will help you assist the physician in taking readings and cleaning and maintaining the machine.
  • Taking a course on phlebotomy – Blood samples are generally required at all clinics and hospitals. Even though this task is usually handled by phlebotomists, medical assistants can often be required to fill in. Taking a course in phlebotomy will help you perform these additional tasks and will make you more valuable as a medical assistant.

Also see: Can Medical Assistants Draw Blood?

  • Improving your soft skills – As a medical assistant, you will be required to brush up on your soft skills, as communication is the most important aspect. Since you will be required to act as a liaison between the patient and the other important traits, you will need to build and improve your compassion as well as patience.

See more: Medical Assistant Courses

Salaries In Other States

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