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Medical Assistants in Washington
Thinking about a career as a Medical Assistants in Washington? Here’s what you need to know. Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information 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. Excludes “Physician Assistants” (29-1071).
What do Medical Assistants Make in Washington?
The medical assistants working in Washington, the typical annual salary is $55,120 per year (or roughly $26.50/hour).Earnings range from $43,810 at the 10th percentile to $69,320 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $43,810 | $21.06 |
| 25th percentile | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| Median (50th) | $55,120 | $26.50 |
| 75th percentile | $60,730 | $29.20 |
| 90th percentile | $69,320 | $33.33 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Washington compared to the national average — is 1.01.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, medical assistants earn a median of $32,137 per year ($15.45/hour), above the Washington median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 1,252,969 medical assistants nationwide. In Washington alone, approximately 18,430 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 9,960 medical assistants.
Top Washington Metros for Medical Assistants
These are the Washington metros with the most medical assistants in Washington.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 9,950 | $58,850 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 1,900 | $47,200 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 750 | $47,980 |
| Yakima, WA | 640 | $47,890 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 620 | $50,300 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 590 | $49,470 |
| Bellingham, WA | 420 | $48,430 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 360 | $47,830 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 200 | $49,370 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 190 | $53,140 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 130 | $46,670 |
Top States for Medical Assistants Employment
The table below shows the states where the most medical assistants work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 110,350 |
| Texas | 72,280 |
| Florida | 59,870 |
| New York | 39,250 |
| Georgia | 26,800 |
| North Carolina | 23,970 |
| Pennsylvania | 23,650 |
| Michigan | 23,620 |
| Arizona | 23,300 |
| Ohio | 23,210 |
| Illinois | 22,990 |
| New Jersey | 22,530 |
| Indiana | 22,090 |
| Tennessee | 19,940 |
| Washington | 18,430 |
| Massachusetts | 16,210 |
| Virginia | 15,990 |
| Maryland | 14,700 |
| Kentucky | 14,070 |
| Louisiana | 14,030 |
Highest-Paying States for Medical Assistants
These states pay the most for medical assistants.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $55,120 |
| Alaska | $51,860 |
| Oregon | $49,900 |
| District of Columbia | $49,740 |
| Minnesota | $49,380 |
| Hawaii | $48,820 |
| Massachusetts | $48,540 |
| California | $48,050 |
| New Hampshire | $48,040 |
| Wisconsin | $47,610 |
Skills
The most important medical assistants skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for medical assistants, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Medical Assistants typically:
- Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
- Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
- Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
- Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
- Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
- Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
- Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
- Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
- Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
- Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.
- Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms.
- Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Working with Computers
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Processing Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: eClinicalWorks EHR software, Epic Systems In-demand technologies: Epic Systems
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
Related Careers
Other careers like medical assistants include:
- Physician Assistants
- Registered Nurses
- Nurse Practitioners
- Cardiologists
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
- Family Medicine Physicians
Also Known As
Autopsy Assistant, Bilingual Medical Assistant, Cardiology Medical Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Chiropractic Assistant, Chiropractor Assistant, Client Services Coordinator, Clinic Assistant, Clinic Medical Assistant, Clinical Medical Assistant, Dermatology Medical Assistant, Doctor Assistant, Doctor's Assistant, Family Medicine Medical Assistant, Health Assistant.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 31-9092.00
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