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Medical assistants are known to be the backbone of the healthcare industry, as they offer support services to physicians, registered nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

The medical assistance industry is highly rewarding, even for beginners. A career in this field is also considered the entry point into the high-paying healthcare field.

Becoming a medical assistant is among the easiest within the healthcare industry because you don’t need a relevant degree.

Also see: Medical Assistant Job Duties

A minimum of a high-school diploma or a GED is all you need before you start your training.

You will also need to complete an online certification program to become a certified medical assistant. (Read More: How to become a medical assistant)

If this profession interests you, you might wonder if pursuing medical assistance is worth it, especially in New Jersey.

We’re here to tell you all that you need to know about the salary figures of medical assistants, how much medical assistants earn in the state of New Jersey, and compare these figures with other states and professions.

So, how much does a medical assistant make in New Jersey?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the annual mean salary of a medical assistant in the state of New Jersey is $39,600, which is around $19.04 hourly.

If we compare the national average salary of medical assistants, which is $37,190, we can see that New Jersey offers higher-than-average pay.

See more: 12 Reasons to Become a Medical Assistant

Medical Assistant Salary & Job Outlook (New Jersey)

Medical assistants reportedly earn an annual average of $37,190, or $17.88 per hour, according to the BLS data.

So, one can deduce that medical assistants in New Jersey generally earn 3-4% more than the national average salary. Even though the increase in salary is not that much, you should know that the demand for medical assistants has been rising a lot recently after Covid-19.

Because many clinics and hospitals are expanding further, the job growth for medical assistants is positive for the near future.

The medical assistant job outlook across the country was further reported to be highly favored by the BLS, with the employment rate expected to increase by 16% by the year 2031.

Read more on Certified Medical Assistant Salary here.

Medical Assistant Salary New Jersey (Compared to Other States)

New Jersey offers a 3 to 4% increase from the national average salary for medical assistants.

However, medical assistants are considered to be among the most in-demand healthcare professionals in New Jersey, so there is good job growth and prospects if you want to stay in the state.

Now let’s see some states that pay higher than New Jersey-

If your goal as a beginner medical assistant is to earn a higher salary, you can choose to move to one of the higher-paying states. However, this may not always be favorable, and you should keep in mind the moving, living, and other daily expenses.

In contrast, some states offer a lower average annual salary for medical assistants in comparison to New Jersey-

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

Medical Assistant Salaries in Different Cities within New Jersey

Let us further compare the average salary for medical assistants across the state of New Jersey, as reported by Indeed –

  • Jersey City- $17.32 hourly or $40,321 annually
  • Newark- $17.58 hourly or $40,927 annually
  • Trenton- $17.06 hourly or $39,727 annually
  • Atlantic City- $14.58 hourly or $33,952 annually
  • Princeton- $18.82 hourly or $43,812 annually
  • Hoboken- $17.90 hourly or $41,667 annually

Please note that the above-mentioned figures may vary according to the type of healthcare facility and have been taken from various job boards, such as indeed.com since there was no government data available for medical assistant salaries within the different cities of New Jersey.

Do You Need to Get Certified in New Jersey?

Although New Jersey does not require medical assistants to obtain certifications, employers highly prefer candidates with certifications and medical assistant training.

This is especially true if you wish to work in specialized settings, such as hospitals and clinics. (Read More: Pediatric Medical Assistant)

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How Do You Get Certified as a Medical Assistant?

As mentioned earlier, as a medical assistant, you will be required to complete an educational course or medical training for you to become certified (Also read: Medical Assistant Educational Requirements).

We highly recommend that you obtain your certification by taking either the CCMA exam held by NHA or the CMA exam held by AAMA.

See more: Medical Assistant Certificate Requirements

You can sit for these exams after completing any online medical assistant program, which helps you prepare for certification exams and even help you with getting job placements once you finish the course.

There are also other options available for completing your medical assistant training through associate degrees and diplomas, generally offered by community colleges or technical universities.

Also see: Medical Assistant Programs Cost

However, opting for an online program is also recommended if you wish to enter the field of medical assistance as quickly as possible. There are online programs available that can be completed in 4 months.

Medical assistants with certifications earn 10% more than those without. There has been a steady increase in employers preferring certified medical assistants due to the rise in the number of patients and clinics across the country.

Around 89% of employers now want medical assistants to be certified, which lets employers know they can fulfill all their roles and responsibilities.

Also see: Is Medical Assistant Degree Required?

Annual Salary of Medical Assistants in New Jersey (Compared to Other Professions)

The field of medical assistance is highly rewarding, even for beginners, since you can earn a higher starting salary than the starting salaries of other professions.

There are higher-paying careers than medical assistance within the healthcare industry. However, these professions need you to get advanced degrees and training lasting at least four years.

See more: Medical Assistant Degree vs Certificate

See this comparison between salaries offered for different professions that require similar educational requirements as medical assistants:

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

You can notice from the above figures that Medical Assistants earn higher than most other professions with similar educational requirements. Apart from that, medical assistance is also a highly demanded profession as of late, so you can expect to earn higher and evolve further within this career. (Read More: Where Can Medical Assistants Work)

Now, let us look and compare the salaries of a medical assistant with that of other specialized professionals that need additional advanced educational degrees and training:

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

The field of medical assistance offers the choice of further evolving your career and becoming a physician, registered nurse, or any other healthcare professional.

Also see: Medical Assistant vs. Physician Assistant

How To Get a Higher Salary in New Jersey as a Medical Assistant?

Every profession offers varying salaries, even within one industry.

Now you must be wondering how you can become a higher-paid medical assistant than others.

Here is how you can earn more as a medical assistant:

You will need to develop your skills further to become valuable and handle more tasks than a regular medical assistant.

There are some medical assistant skills that can help you become valuable. Here’s how you get those skills:

A. Phlebotomy Course

In any clinic or hospital, blood samples are required to analyze any problems the patients might be facing. As a medical assistant, you can be asked to fill in for the phlebotomist at any time, and that is why you need to know the basics of phlebotomy. This will also help you fulfill more responsibilities, resulting in higher pay.

Read: Can Medical Assistants Draw Blood?

B. Obtaining your Medical Assistance Certification

It is required for medical assistants to earn their certifications. You can do so by completing your medical assistant training and then sitting and clearing the CCMA or CMA exams. Once you do that, you’re a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant.

Also read: Are Medical Assistant Licenses Required?

C. Staying up to date on recent technologies

The healthcare industry is always evolving and has been inclined towards technology more than before. You will need to stay updated with recent technologies and be able to incorporate them into your practice to provide the best care for patients.

D. Medical Billing & Coding Course

Medical billing and coding are two completely separate careers with experienced professionals. However medical assistants are often required to fill in for their positions whenever necessary. If you take a medical billing and coding course, you can easily handle the extra tasks.

See more: Medical Assistant Courses

E. Brushing Up On Soft Skills

Even though hands-on training and education will help you gain technical skills and advance as a medical assistant, soft skills will make the patient feel comfortable. Effective communication, patience, and dependability are essential skills that medical assistants should strive to develop.

Also see: How long does it take to become a Medical Assistant?

Medical Assistant Salary In Other States

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