Occupation Profile - America's Career InfoNet

Explore Careers

America's Career InfoNet

	Occupation Information

	Industry Information

	State Information

	Career Tools

	Videos

	Find It By Topic

Help on this page Printer-Friendly Version

Occupation Profile

Selected Criteria:
Occupation:	Medical Assistants	Change Occupation
State:	Pennsylvania	Change State
Profile Content:	(content listed below)	Modify Profile Content
Wages \| Employment Trends \| Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities \| Tasks & Activities Tools & Technology \| Education & Training \| Related Occupations Web Resources

MEDICAL ASSISTANTS: PENNSYLVANIA

Occupation Description

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician. Exclude "Physician Assistants".

Career Video

View career video with one of the following:

Additional videos and more information available on CareerOneStop.

State and National Wages

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

Location	Pay Period	2008
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
United States	Hourly	$9.90	$11.39	$13.60	$15.89	$19.02
United States	Yearly	$20,600	$23,700	$28,300	$33,100	$39,600
Pennsylvania	Hourly	$9.82	$11.05	$12.90	$15.02	$17.60
Pennsylvania	Yearly	$20,400	$23,000	$26,800	$31,200	$36,600

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Wage Table

Hourly Wage Chart

Yearly Wage Chart

High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Occupation Wages FAQs

Median Wage by Occupation Across States
Compare Wages by Occupation and Local Area
Compare Wages by Metropolitan Areas

National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey
State Data Source: Pennsylvania Workforce Statistics

State and National Trends

United States	Employment		Percent Change	Job Openings ¹
United States	2008	2018	Percent Change	Job Openings ¹
Medical assistants	483,600	647,500	+34%	21,780
Pennsylvania	Employment		Percent Change	Job Openings ¹
Pennsylvania	2006	2016	Percent Change	Job Openings ¹
Medical assistants	21,050	28,250	+34%	1,000

¹Job Openings refers to the average annual job openings due to growth and net replacement.

Note: The data for the State Employment Trends and the National Employment Trends are not directly comparable. The projections period for state data is 2006-2016, while the projections period for national data is 2008-2018.

Occupation Trends FAQs

Employment Trends by Occupation Across States
Compare Employment Trends by Occupation
Employment Trends by Industry and Occupation

National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
State Data Source: Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information & Analysis

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Medical Assistants.

Knowledge:

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Skills:

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Abilities:

Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Source: Occupational Information Network: Medical Assistants.

Tasks and Activities

Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Medical Assistants.

Occupation Specific Tasks:

Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.
Change dressings on wounds.
Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
Collect blood, tissue or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests or admission.
Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets and physicians' instructions to patients.
Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.
Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments and materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
Inventory and order medical, lab, or office supplies and equipment.
Keep financial records and perform other bookkeeping duties, such as handling credit and collections and mailing monthly statements to patients.
Operate x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), and other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests.
Perform general office duties such as answering telephones, taking dictation or completing insurance forms.
Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician.
Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
Record patients' medical history, vital statistics and information such as test results in medical records.
Schedule appointments for patients.
Set up medical laboratory equipment.
Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.

Generalized Work Activities:

Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Detailed Work Activities:

administer injections
administer medications or treatments
assist in examining or treating dental or medical patients
calculate medical diagnostic test results
collect clinical data
collect specimens from patients
complete patient bills
complete patient insurance forms
conduct medical laboratory tests
conduct medical tests
draw blood
ensure correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling
follow dental or medical office procedures
follow dental or medical x-ray procedures
follow patient care procedures
inventory medical supplies or instruments
lift or transport ill or injured patients
maintain dental or medical records
observe patient condition
obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
position patient for therapy
post medical insurance billings
prepare bodies for interment
prepare medical treatment room
prepare patients for tests, therapy, or treatments
prepare sample for laboratory testing, analysis, or microscopy
process medical records
provide customer service
record medical history or data
retrieve files or charts
route multi-line telephone calls
schedule meetings or appointments
set up or calibrate laboratory equipment
set up patient care equipment
sterilize or disinfect instruments
take dictation
take vital signs
use clinical sterilizing technique
use interpersonal communication techniques
use interviewing procedures
use knowledge of medical insurance systems
use knowledge of medical terminology
use medical diagnostic equipment
use medical lab techniques
use nursing practices or procedures
use sanitation practices in health care settings
use secretarial procedures
weigh patients
work with persons with mental disabilities or illnesses

Source: Occupational Information Network: Medical Assistants.

Tools and Technology

Medical Assistants View Detailed Report

Tools:

Hypodermic needles - Intradermal needles, Intramuscular needles, Subcutaneous needles
Mercury blood pressure units - Baumanometers, Manual blood pressuring measurement equipment
Nebulizers or accessories - Nebulizers, Pulmonary nebulizers
Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets - Opthalmoscopes, Otoscopes
Spirometers or its accessories or its supplies - Spirometers, Vitalors

Technology:

Accounting software - Billing software, Bookkeeping software
Electronic mail software - Email software, Microsoft Exchange
Medical software - Patient management software, Visual electro diagnostic software
Office suite software - Business software applications, Microsoft Office software
Operating system software - Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Source: Occupational Information Network: Medical Assistants.

Education and Training

Occupation: Medical Assistants
Most Common Educational/Training Level: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Related Instructional Programs:

Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other
Anesthesiologist Assistant
Chiropractic Assistant/Technician
Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary
Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder
Medical Office Assistant/Specialist
Medical Office Management/Administration
Medical Reception/Receptionist
Medical/Clinical Assistant
Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist
Optometric Technician/Assistant
Orthoptics/Orthoptist

Distribution of Educational Attainment

Occupation	Percent of employees aged 25 to 44 in the occupation whose highest level of educational attainment is
Occupation	Less than high school diploma	High school diploma or equivalent	Some college, no degree	Associate's degree	Bachelor's degree	Master's degree	Doctoral or professional degree
Medical assistants	4.8%	29%	37.8%	16.3%	9.1%	1.6%	1.4%
Other Healthcare Support Occupations	4.2%	27.9%	37.6%	16.1%	10.5%	1.8%	1.9%
Healthcare Support	6%	24.6%	29.2%	26.6%	10.5%	1.7%	1.4%
Total, All Occupations	10.7%	27.6%	20.6%	8.9%	19.4%	8.3%	4.5%

Find colleges, training schools and instructional programs for this occupation.

Find education and training programs where you can earn a certificate, diploma, or award in less than 2 years with the Short-Term Training Finder.

Access additional Education Resources in the Career Resource Library.

Use the Financial Aid Advisor to help find funds for financing education.

WIA Eligible Training Provider List: http://www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us/homeframe.asp?function=trainprov

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Education/Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Education Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)

Related Occupation Profiles
Occupations with similar skill requirements