Select Page

Smarter MA | The #1 Prep Tool for the NHA CCMA® · AAMA CMA® · AMT RMA® · NCCT NCMA®

Medical Assistant Salary | The Ultimate Medical Assistant Wage Report

Written by: Katie Miller, co-creator of Smarter MA, © Smarter MA

I surveyed over 300 medical assistants to find out exactly what the average medical assistant salary is. 

I’m going to share with you the results of the medical assistant salary survey so you learn how much money medical assistants are actually making (medical assistant wage per hour). 

I’m going to break it down by: 

  • Certification type: NHA CCMA®, AAMA CMA®, AMT RMA®, NCCT NCMA®
  • Years of experience

I’m also going to share tips on how to maximize your income potential as a medical assistant and negotiate higher wages.

Whether you’re just starting your career as a medical assistant or looking to negotiate a higher salary, this guide has everything you need to know to make informed decisions about your career and earning potential.

So, let’s dive in and discover the earning potential of a medical assistant.

– Katie

Preparing for a medical assistant certification test?

Smarter MA is the most powerful resource available for medical assistants who are serious about passing the certification test the first time.

Table of Contents

  1. How We Got 300+ Responses From Medical Assistants Across the Country
  2. The Raw Results
  3. Medical Assistant Salary By Certification Type
  4. Medical Assistant Salary By Years Of Experience
  5. How To Negotiate and Raise Your Salary
  6. Conclusion

How We Got 300+ Responses From Medical Assistants Across the Country

A Google form was posted on the largest subreddit for medical assistants.

Over 300 medical assistants filled out the form.

The Raw Results

The raw results from the Google form are found in this section. Further down below, we compile this data and break it down in table form.

Years of Experience

The survey skewed to newer medical assistants. This makes sense as the medical assistants that hang out on Reddit are going to be the ones that are newer to the profession (and also are younger).

60% of the results are from medical assistants with 0-2 years of experience.

Certification Type

  1. NHA CCMA certification accounted for 36% of responses.
  2. Uncertified was 30% of responses.
  3. AAMA CMA was 23% of responses.
  4. NCCT NCMA was 7% of responses.
  5. AMT RMA was 2% of responses.

State of Practice

We received responses from across the country!

Wage Results

Medical Assistant Salary By Certification Type

For assistants with the NHA CCMA certification, the average medical assistant salary was $20.55/hour based on 109 responses.

For assistants with the AAMA CMA certification, the average medical assistant salary was $22.42/hour based on 69 responses.

For assistants with the AMT RMA certification, the average medical assistant salary was $20.71/hour based on 14 responses.

For assistants with the NCCT NCMA certification, the average medical assistant salary was $23.38/hour based on 21 responses.

For uncertified assistants, the average medical assistant salary was $17.59/hour based on 93 responses.

Medical Assistant Salary: Certified Medical Assistants vs. Uncertified

Certified medical assistant average: $21.44/hour based on 213 responses

vs. 

Uncertified medical assistant average: $17.59/hour based on 91 responses.

Survey finding: A certified medical assistant makes $3.85 more every hour (or 22%). 

*We’re going to use salary and wage interchangeably here as many medical assistants use the term salary, though most medical assistants are paid by hour (hourly wage), not by an annual salary.

Medical Assistant Salary By Years Of Experience (Certified Medical Assistants)

For certified medical assistants with 0-1 years of experience, the average medical assistant salary was $19.12/hour based on 58 responses.

For certified medical assistants with 1-2 years of experience, the average medical assistant salary was $19.84/hour based on 55 responses. 

For certified medical assistants with 3-5 years of experience, the average medical assistant salary was $23.52/hour based on 48 responses. 

For certified medical assistants with 5-10 years of experience, the average medical assistant salary was $23.74/hour based on 34 responses. 

 

For certified medical assistants with 10+ years of experience, the average medical assistant salary was $25.11/hour based on 18 responses. 

*The data above is only for certified medical assistants (uncertified assistants were filtered out as it is less relevant)

How To Negotiate a Higher Wage as a Medical Assistant

Shining Bright: Demonstrating Your Value as a Medical Assistant

A. Level up your skills and knowledge

  1. Sign up for workshops or continuing education courses (knowledge is power!)
  2. Chase those extra certifications (more credentials, more opportunities)
  3. Stay on top of industry trends (become the go-to person in your practice)

B. Show your passion and dedication

  1. Punctuality and reliability are your new best friends
  2. Volunteer for extra shifts or tasks (go the extra mile!)
  3. Keep a positive attitude and be a team player – this is huge

C. Track your accomplishments

  1. Maintain a record of your achievements and responsibilities
  2. Be so good, everyone you work with raves about you – positive reviews from colleagues, supervisors, and patients

D. Go above and beyond

  1. Spot opportunities to improve office efficiency or patient care
  2. Offer to mentor or train new employees (share your wisdom)
  3. Be the change-maker by implementing new ideas or processes

Sealing the Deal: Negotiating a Higher Wage

A. Get prepared for the big talk

  1. Do your homework: research salary ranges in your area
  2. Set a target salary and a reasonable range (but aim high!)
  3. Gather all the evidence of your awesomeness

B. Timing is everything

  1. Request a private chat with your supervisor (one-on-one is best)
  2. Pick a stress-free time for both of you (happy boss = more willing to give raises) – make sure it comes on the heels of you performing well
  3. Bring your collaborative mindset to the table

C. Make your case with confidence

  1. Start with gratitude for your role and opportunities
  2. Showcase your accomplishments and contributions
  3. Present your well-researched salary benchmarks (knowledge is power!)

D. Pop the question

  1. Clearly state your desired salary and why you deserve it
  2. Stay open to discussing other perks or growth opportunities
  3. Keep it confident, respectful, and professional (you got this!)

E. Tackle the response like a champ

  1. Be ready for counteroffers, objections, or delays
  2. Remind them of your value and commitment to the practice
  3. If needed, compromise or schedule a follow-up meeting (patience is key)

F. Seal the deal and follow up

  1. Thank your supervisor for their time and consideration (gratitude wins)
  2. Get the agreed-upon changes in writing (better safe than sorry)
  3. Keep shining bright and proving your value to the practice

Conclusion

Getting certified will increases your income potential as a medical assistant – not to mention increase your confidence and capabilities on the job.

If you’re preparing for the NHA CCMA®, AAMA CMA®, AMT RMA®, or NCCT NCMA® – you’ve got to check out Smarter MA, the most powerful resource available for the medical assistant certification tests!

Get started with instant access to a free practice test!

 

Preparing for a medical assistant certification test?

Smarter MA is your secret weapon to pass your test the first time, guaranteed.

Any questions?

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out 👋

 

Fill out the contact form or use the chat app by clicking the chat icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.

SmarterMA.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Association of Medical Assistants, the American Medical Technologists, the American Education Certification Association, the American Medical Certification Association, the California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants, the National Center for Competency Testing, and/or the National Healthcareer Association. CMA AAMA® is a registered trademark owned by the American Association of Medical Assistants, CCMA CCBMA® is a registered trademark owned by the California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants, CMAC AMCA® and MAC AMCA® are registered trademarks owned by the American Medical Certification Association, NCMA NCCT® is a registered trademark owned by the National Center for Competency Testing, NRMA AECA® is a registered trademark owned by the American Education Certification Association, RMA AMT® is a registered trademark owned by the American Medical Technologists, and CCMA NHA® is a registered trademark owned by the National Healthcareer Association.

error: