Top Places & Best Employers to Work as Medical Assistants

Healthcare organizations are now offering competitive salaries and excellent benefits to attract employees. Opportunities for career growth are also improved to attract and retain the best talent in the field.

Places Where Medical Assistants Can Work

Medical assistants have the flexibility to work in a variety of healthcare settings. We will discuss the different types of medical facilities where medical assistants work and the roles they play in each setting.

The vast majority of medical assistants work in the offices of physicians. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides statistics showing around 743,500 people working as medical assistants in 2021.

Of that number, 58% worked in the offices of physicians. The next highest work environment for medical assistants was in hospitals. 15% of medical assistants found themselves working in private, local, and state hospitals.

Outpatient care centers accounted for 9% of U.S. medical assistants while chiropractor offices made up 4%.

A. Hospitals

As you might expect, hospitals employ a number of medical assistants. There are many roles that can be carried out and MA’s can work in:

Operating rooms
Emergency rooms
Specialized departments
Medical offices

The responsibilities of a medical assistant are wide and varied. They can cover a selection of administrative and clinical tasks, including:

Taking vital signs
Taking patient histories
Conducting lab tests
Filing insurance claims
Educating the patient
Recording patient records
Assisting with medical procedures
Assisting with surgeries
Maintaining a sterile environment

Infection control is a large part of a medical assistant’s responsibilities. This includes the sterilization of medical equipment and ensuring sterility is maintained.

B. Clinics

Clinics typically provide healthcare that falls between the scope of your physician’s office and the hospital.

A medical assistant can provide much-needed support to the healthcare team in a clinical setting. This can include both clinical and administrative duties.

The responsibilities of a medical assistant in a clinic can include:

Patient check-ins
Obtaining personal and medical information
Recording personal and medical information
Using the electronic health record system
Preparing examination rooms
Preparing patients for examinations
Taking vital signs
Assisting with examinations
Performing basic lab tests
Sterilizing medical equipment

Administrative tasks, such as answering phones and scheduling appointments, are also an important part of the medical assisting role. You might also be expected to update medical files and process insurance claims and billing information.

C. Private Practices

Private practices also employ medical assistants. The job role will remain the same and you will typically be tasked with both clinical and administrative duties.

However, working in the private healthcare sector can provide a less strict workspace in terms of medical services. Responsibilities in private practice may include:

Scheduling appointments
Taking patient histories
Taking the patient’s vital signs
Preparing patients for medical procedures
Maintaining medical records

D. Other Medical Facilities

There are other medical facilities where medical assistants work. These include:

Nursing homes
Urgent care clinics
Ambulatory care centers
Medical research centers
Outpatient clinics
Clinical labs
Palliative care facilities
Podiatry clinics

The wide range of workplaces that employ medical assistants makes it a career choice with good job prospects. Medical assisting has a projected growth of 16% between 2021 and 2031 and the growth of the healthcare industry is behind that.

Top Employers for Medical Assistants

Some healthcare organizations stand out for their commitment to providing excellent salaries. The benefits and work environments must also be considered by medical assistants.

It’s important you explore the options available to you when looking for medical assistant jobs.

In this section, we’ll discuss the top employers for medical assistants based on job satisfaction, career growth, and benefits.

A. Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is a leading U.S. healthcare provider. It has 737 medical facilities and 39 hospitals and employs tens of thousands of healthcare professionals.

Some benefits of becoming a Kaiser Permanente employee include:

Medical care
Generous holiday and sick pay
Healthcare
Retirement plans
Educational opportunities

Medical assistants that choose a career with Kaiser Permanente can expect a competitive salary as well as opportunities for career growth.

Developmental plans and mentorship programs help you to become the health professional you want to be. There is even a tuition reimbursement program to encourage learning.

The company runs a number of initiatives to encourage a healthy work-life balance. Their focus on patient care makes it a rewarding choice for medical assistant program graduates.

B. Mayo Clinic

The Mayo Clinic is a large nonprofit organization with five major education campuses and dozens of health system locations around America. They strive to make working here a fulfilling job that has a focus on helping each patient.

It was rated by U.S. News & World Report as the top hospital in America in 2022/23 and helps more than a million patients every year.

Mayo Clinic offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes healthcare, life insurance, and pension coverage. This employer is also dedicated to helping its employees learn and grow with exciting education and career development programs.

C. Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a Cleveland-based academic medical center. The nonprofit was established in 1921 and has gone on to become a pioneer in different fields. The first U.S. face transplant and coronary artery bypass surgery took place here.

Medical assistants with an interest in research and innovation will thrive in this environment. Add to that competitive salaries and great benefits and it becomes a very interesting option.

Retirement plans and life insurance offer peace of mind. You will also enjoy world-class healthcare, plus paid time off and wellness programs designed to improve your health and mindset.

You’ll also find great career development opportunities and tuition reimbursement options.

D. Massachusetts General Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital is one of the best hospitals in America as voted for by U.S News & World Report. The institution is affiliated with Harvard Medical School and is located in Boston, Massachusetts.

Working at this facility gives medical assistants the opportunity to enjoy competitive wages and great benefits. These include:

Medical coverage
Dental coverage
Paid time off
Retirement plans
Life insurance

The supportive environment is ideal for anyone interested in career progression. They have specialist-led learning and development programs.

The hospital has a commitment to using cutting-edge research and technology, meaning you’ll be at the forefront of developments in your chosen field.

E. Concentra

Concentra is a Texas-based healthcare establishment that oversees more than 500 urgent care clinics in 44 states.

The Concentra workforce is treated as a community. Employee wellness and ensuring people enjoy a good work-life balance is central to Concentra’s mission. What’s more, this healthcare establishment provides medical assistants with advancement and learning opportunities.

Those that take up the role of certified medical assistant at Concentra can enjoy great benefits such as retirement plans, healthcare, and paid time off.

FAQs

What is the job outlook for medical assistants?

The job outlook for medical assistants in the U.S. is extremely good. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a growth of 16% between 2021 and 2031. This growth is almost three times the national average. This is significantly higher than the 6% projected growth for registered nurses.

What benefits do medical assistants typically receive?

The benefits medical assistants receive will be dependent on the employer. Some benefits you can expect include health coverage, life insurance, a retirement plan, and paid time off.

Taking a look at the benefits when applying for jobs can help you make the right decision with your career path.

What is the average annual salary for medical assisting positions?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary of a medical assisting position in the U.S. is around $37,190 per year. These statistics were published in 2021 so the figure is subject to change.

Different medical assistant jobs may offer different salaries based on experience or location. For example, the highest average annual wage of $47,320 in the US for a medical assistant is found in Washington. In comparison, the lowest average annual wage is found in the state of Louisiana and is around $30,620.

These figures are influenced by a number of factors including the cost of living in different states.

Can medical assistants work in specialist fields?

Medical assistants can work in specialist fields. Administrative and clinical tasks carried out by medical assistants provide extensive experience. This can be narrowed down with specialist training.

Medical assistant specialty roles include:

Cardiology Medical Assistant
Ophthalmologic Medical Assistant
Geriatrics Medical Assistant
Endocrinology Medical Assistant
Gynecology Medical Assistant
Chiropractic Medical Assistant

Conclusion

In conclusion, medical assisting is a rewarding career path that offers opportunities for growth and advancement.

The best places to work as a medical assistant are those that offer a competitive average annual salary. You should also look out for the benefits and work environments that promote employee wellness and career development.

By considering these factors, medical assistants can find the right workplace for their needs and career goals.