Medical Assistant or Medical Administrative Assistant?

So, you want a position in the medical field and you are looking for study opportunities but you can’t quite tell the difference between a medical assistant and a medical administrative assistant?

Don’t worry, it’s pretty common, the job titles sound fairly similar and don’t give any indication of the precise nature of the position.

To help you out, we here at Northwest have put together a short guide to the differences between a medical assistant and a medical administrative assistant that should hopefully make your decision on which of these amazing career paths to choose a little easier.

Read More: Which NCC Program is Right for YOU? Medical Assistant V.S. Medical Administrative Assistant

Medical Assistant or Medical Administrative Assistant

Job Responsibilities

Both medical and administrative assistants work to empower professionals, such as doctors, managers, and technicians, to perform their jobs. The assistants provide clerical support, acting as generalists for the disparate jobs needed to keep a healthcare practice running optimally.

Both medical assistants and medical administrative assistants normally work full time in climate-controlled and well-lit environments. Shift patterns may include evenings or weekends, as well as normal business opening hours, depending on the operating times of their facilities.

Job Similarities

Both medical and administrative assistants can be called upon to handle clerical tasks and necessary paperwork at their healthcare practice. They might be asked to answer phones, receive and distribute paper mail, respond to emails, maintain paper and electronic filing systems, complete forms, and operate office machines such as fax machines and printers.

Both roles only require a high school diploma or equivalent because they receive training on the job from more experience clerical staff, or from supervisors. However, additional training is available in business schools or community colleges.

Voluntary certification from national organizations may enhance employment value because it represents documented proof of expertise.

Job Differences

Aside from clerical tasks, medical assistants are often called upon to perform clinical tasks that administrative assistant are not qualified to do.

Medical assistants can help with patient examinations, give patient injections, and prepare blood and other specimens for laboratory tests. The restrictions on what a medical assistant can do is normally dependant on what state they are in.

Medical assistants can only work under the supervision of a doctor and must be able to keep health information confidential.

Additionally, medical assistants learn the specific medical terminology and procedures associated with medicine. However, all assistants are expected to learn technical medical vocabulary.

Pay Differences

Medical assistants earned a median salary of $44,200 per year, or approximately $21.25 per hour, as of May 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $35,020, while the highest 10% made more than $57,830. Most medical assistants work in doctors’ offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers.

Medical administrative assistants earned a slightly higher median salary of $44,640 per year, or about $21.46 per hour. Their lowest 10% earned less than $33,840, while the top 10% earned more than $76,550 annually. They are most commonly employed in healthcare, education, and government sectors.

Career Outlook

The job outlook for medical assistants is notably stronger than that of administrative assistants. Employment for medical assistants is projected to grow 14% from 2023 to 2033, which is much faster than average across all occupations. This translates to around 114,600 new job openings each year, driven in part by the aging baby boomer population and increased demand for preventive care services.

In comparison, employment for medical administrative assistants is projected to grow by just 1% during the same time period. However, due to workforce turnover, there are still approximately 367,500 job openings each year in administrative support roles.

As demand for healthcare services continues to rise, both roles remain essential—making this a great time to pursue a career as either a medical assistant or a medical administrative assistant.

Start Your Career In Medical Assistant Today!

Here at Northwest Career College, we have a student-focused attitude that prioritizes giving our graduates the training and skill set they’ll need to excel as medical assistants. Our established and seasoned instructors work with you, teaching you every aspect of Medical Assistant. We help you build your skills, abilities, and confidence, and we are proud of our 88% national exam pass rate.

If you’d like to learn more about what our medical assistant course can offer you, call one of our enrollment specialists at (702) 403-1592 today. We provide flexible learning, with online and on-campus morning, afternoon and night classes to accommodate your Las Vegas work and family schedule. Once you’ve graduated, our dedicated and experienced Career Services team will work with you to help you find the best employment opportunities in Las Vegas. Call us now on (702) 403-1592 to start your journey!