Medical Assistant Careers: A Guide for Students

You know you want to become a medical assistant—and you may already understand the steps to get there. But what does your day-to-day work actually look like once you earn your certificate, and how many career paths does it really open?

Medical assistant training prepares you for more than just roles labeled “certified medical assistant.” The skills you gain apply across a wide range of healthcare positions, giving you flexibility as your interests and goals evolve.

Here’s what a medical assistant program typically prepares you for:

1. Core clinical and administrative skills – Training covers human anatomy, patient care basics, medical records, insurance processes, and office management.
2. Career flexibility – Graduates qualify for traditional medical assistant roles and related healthcare positions beyond the title.
3. Workplace confidence – Programs are designed to help you step into healthcare settings ready to contribute from day one.
4. Long-term career growth – Your certificate can serve as a foundation for specialization or expanded responsibilities.

Learn how to turn your medical assistant certificate into a career that fits your goals—whether you stay in a medical assistant role or explore broader opportunities in healthcare.

Entry-Level Positions: Getting Started in Medical Assisting

Medical assistant positions are usually entry-level. Though you can find some medical assistant careers that do not require a certificate showing completion of a relevant educational program and medical assistant certification, getting that education and certification can open many doors for you. The skills and knowledge you accrue allow you to find medical assistant jobs and other jobs as well.

You may already have your heart set on being a medical assistant in a private clinic or physician’s office, but you might also consider similar roles. Depending on your state, your certification may qualify you for a more niche, specialized role, for example, as a phlebotomist or simply for general office work as a medical assistant.

Here are just a few of the entry-level job options often available right after graduating with a medical assisting certificate. You’ll also find information on what to expect in each position.

Certified Medical Assistant

If you take a straightforward career path and become simply a certified medical assistant, working in a physician’s office or clinic is a common option. This role is a mix of clinical and administrative tasks that include reviewing medical histories, taking vitals, collecting laboratory samples, and helping schedule patient appointments.

While you can get on-the-job training and do not necessarily need a certification, certified medical assistants are often preferred by employers and can help you stand out in the resume pool. The median salary for certified medical assistants, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is $44,200 per year.

Phlebotomist

One of the roles the BLS says is adjacent to a certified medical assistant is that of a phlebotomist, a medical professional specializing in drawing blood. While this entry-level role can be filled without obtaining certification, some employers prefer hiring those with certification from a postsecondary phlebotomy program rather than providing on-the-job training.

However, a medical assistant program like that at Florida Technical College that teaches skills (e.g., reviewing a blood order and drawing blood) that phlebotomists need may be acceptable training for many employers. The median annual salary for a phlebotomist is $43,660 per year.

Dental Assistant

Medical assistants can also specialize in a certain type of care, such as dental care, and find work in places like dental offices. There, qualified medical assistants can perform the role of a dental assistant with tasks like taking x-rays and helping with administrative duties.

Some states, according to the BLS, require further training and examination outside of a medical assistant certification for work as a dental assistant, while others do not require any formal training. The median annual salary for a dental assistant is $47,300.

Medical Records Specialist

Certified medical assistants may also find roles within the medical records specialty where they review and catalog medical records, maintaining and retrieving them as needed. While a medical records specialist usually needs at least a postsecondary certificate, some employers opt to train those with high school diplomas, while others require even more education (i.e., associate or bachelor’s degree). The BLS lists the annual median salary for a medical records specialist as $50,250.

Medical Laboratory Assistant

A medical laboratory assistant performs many of the same tasks that a certified medical assistant might but does so in a different setting. Working in a laboratory, a medical laboratory assistant might perform certain tests, draw blood, record patient information, and ensure the laboratory is stocked and clean.

Employers look for a high school diploma at a minimum when hiring for this position, though many prefer those with certification. The average base salary for a laboratory assistant, according to Indeed, is $48,672 per year.

Video Insight: Pros & Cons of Being a Medical Assistant

Get an honest look at the upside and challenges of the MA career path. It’s a balanced overview to help you confirm whether the role aligns with your goals.

Related Careers: Leveling Up Your Career Trajectory

If you want to level up your career and expand your opportunities beyond entry-level medical assistant roles, you have many options. Below are some of the higher-level opportunities you can pursue if you’re willing to invest in additional education, whether that means obtaining an associate or bachelor’s degree or earning another healthcare-related certification.

Already having your medical assistant certification will prepare you for such endeavors and familiarize you with the healthcare landscape and basics like physiology, anatomy, and laboratory work.

Occupational Therapy Assistants

When it comes to occupational therapy, most employers expect at least an associate degree for those in occupational therapy assistant positions. Most states also require a state-issued license.

Occupational therapy assistants work one-on-one with patients, guiding them in therapeutic activities while also instructing them on how to get the most from their therapeutic experience. The median occupational therapy assistant salary is, according to the BLS, $66,050.

Clinical Research Coordinator

A clinical research coordinator oversees all the moving parts of a clinical trial. Job tasks include ensuring the trial adheres to protocol and regulations, recruiting clinical trial participants, overseeing the trial site and staff, and/or collecting data.

A clinical research coordinator, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, needs a bachelor’s degree and may be a registered nurse. Indeed lists yearly salaries for clinical research coordinators at around $44,866.

Licensed Practical Nurse/Registered Nurse

While a medical assistant certification can prepare you for success as a licensed practical nurse (LPN), you still need additional education and licensing to take on this more comprehensive role. Licensed practical nurses often work on a more hands-on level with patients. They provide basic care in a range of healthcare settings, not just clinics and physician offices as is the case for medical assistants.

Licensed practical nurses must complete a practical nursing certificate or degree program, take a licensure exam, and meet any other state licensure requirements for LPNs. The median annual salary for a licensed practical nurse, according to the BLS, is $62,340.

Clinical Laboratory Technician

While a medical assistant may take certain laboratory samples, the clinical laboratory technician is the one who uses those samples to produce valuable data and information relevant to patient treatment. Clinical laboratory technicians work in various healthcare settings, including physician’s offices, standalone laboratories, and hospitals.

Most achieve at least an associate degree in clinical laboratory science, and some states require licensure. The BLS puts the median annual salary for a clinical laboratory technician at $61,890.

Healthcare Administrator

If you enjoy the administrative side of the medical assistant profession, you may want to pursue a career as a healthcare administrator. Also sometimes called a health or medical services manager, these individuals work in a range of healthcare settings, ensuring services and facilities are up to par, monitoring budgets, and managing staff, among other duties.

An associate or a bachelor’s degree is typically required to work as a healthcare administrator, as is experience in healthcare administration. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for a healthcare administrator is $117,960.

Tips & Tricks: Land Your First Job in Medical Assisting

Beyond attending an accredited medical assistant program and getting your certification, there’s more you can do to set yourself up for success in a medical assisting role. Even though the BLS projects a positive job outlook for medical assistants, with employment nationwide expected to grow at a much faster-than-average rate of 12% through 2034, taking certain measures can increase your chances of getting the first job with your desired pay, work schedule, setting, and career growth opportunities that you want.

Keep reading to discover some tips and tricks for establishing a foundation for success.

Establish Good Relationships

Throughout your educational experience, establish good relationships both with your peers and instructors, since you never know when someone can provide a letter of recommendation or other reference. As you shadow healthcare professionals in a real-life healthcare setting during your clinical training, remember that building good relationships throughout this process could lead to a future role.

Additionally, consider joining organizations that offer networking and relationship-building opportunities to healthcare professionals. The American Association of Medical Assistants, for example, provides networking and mentorship activities both at the local and state levels.

Polish Up Your Resume

Your resume is often your first impression, so be sure to highlight the desirable qualities – analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills, compassion, being detail-oriented – most employers seek in a medical assistant. Touch on your education and training, including relevant skills learned. Specify any licenses, certifications, or registrations you have. Remember that becoming a medical assistant is more than about the medical education and training you receive; it’s also important to be someone who works well with others.

Search Proactively

While establishing good relationships and having a stellar resume can certainly open doors for you, don’t rely on relationships and networking alone for your first role. Be proactive with your job search and keep an eye on open positions. In addition to perusing online job boards, also look through job openings directly advertised by local healthcare providers. Consider using a spreadsheet to keep track of the application process for each of job you’re interested in.

Stay Open-Minded

Throughout the entire process, remain open-minded about your career and how it may develop. A medical assistant role is a solid stepping stone for other careers in the healthcare industry, and you’ll likely discover adjacent roles that appeal to you as you get more hands-on experience.

For example, you may discover you prefer the office management and clerical duties that come with some medical assistant jobs, so you decide to pursue a healthcare administrator role and the much larger paycheck that comes with it. Or maybe you don’t want to work with the public as much as you thought you might, so you instead pursue a behind-the-scenes role in a laboratory.

As you’re looking for that very first job after graduation, remember to look beyond medical assistant job postings. You’re likely qualified for many other entry-level healthcare roles.

Career Outlook for Medical Assistants

The career outlook for medical assistants nationwide is positive, as the table below indicates, with an expected 13.8% job growth rate. That correlates to more than 105,000 new jobs and an average of more than 114,000 annual openings. Your career outlook will, of course, differ based on geography.

Some states have far more while others have far fewer medical assistant jobs available than projected for the coming years. Sometimes, this is based on sheer demographics and population. Alaska, for example, may have a low number of new jobs coming down the pipeline, but the U.S. Census Bureau also lists it as the third-least populated state after Wyoming and Vermont.

On the other end of the spectrum is Utah, with a projected job growth rate of 43.5% and 2,000 average annual openings. By just comparing the number of annual openings, though, California leads with 18,280, with Texas coming in at a distant second with 11,250 annual openings. Maine has the lowest projected job growth rate for medical assistants at just under 7% growth and 580 average annual openings.