Healthcare · Medical assistant hiring
Most states do not require medical assistants to be certified, so the credential you ask for is your choice, and what an MA may legally do (injections, lab tests) still depends on state law. Careerscape places medical assistants through a national, remote team of recruiters who focus on healthcare and outpatient roles.
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BLS notes that medical assistants often focus on either clinical or administrative work, though some do both. Cut the lines that do not fit your clinic, and check each clinical duty against your state's rules before you post.
We are hiring a medical assistant to room patients, take vitals and histories, support providers during exams and keep the clinic moving. You will work in our EHR all day and be the first clinical contact for many patients.
Credentials
Four national credentials come up most. They differ in who can sit for the exam and how they are kept current, which tells you something about the candidate's training. Verify any credential directly with its issuer.
| Credential | Issuer | Who can sit for the exam | Keeping it current |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMA (AAMA) | American Association of Medical Assistants | Students and graduates of CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited programs, plus an alternative pathway for other postsecondary or apprenticeship programs that meet set criteria | Recertify every 60 months, by 60 continuing education units (at least 10 each in administrative, clinical and general topics) or by retaking the exam |
| RMA (AMT) | American Medical Technologists | Five routes, including recent graduates of accredited programs and MAs with at least 3 of the past 7 years of work experience | Annual renewal fee, plus continuing education (CCP) compliance every three years |
| CCMA | National Healthcareer Association (NHA) | Check NHA for current eligibility routes | Check NHA for current renewal terms |
| NCMA | National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) | Check NCCT for current routes | Check NCCT for current renewal terms |
Washington's Department of Health accepts the exams behind all four credentials above, plus AMCA's clinical medical assistant exam, for its Medical Assistant-Certified (MA-C) credential, and the exam must have been passed within five years of applying. Source: AAMA eligibility and recertification pages; AMT RMA and CCP pages; Washington DOH.
State rules
BLS notes that duties vary by state and that tasks such as giving injections or performing basic lab tests are allowed only as state law permits. Here is how that plays out when you hire.
Washington issues its own Medical Assistant-Certified credential through the Department of Health. A national certificate alone is not the same as holding the state credential, so check both.
BLS says some states require graduation from an accredited program, licensure or certification, or other prerequisites for certain duties. Ask your state medical board or licensing agency which tasks need what.
Even where MAs may give injections, they act at a provider's direction. Write supervision into the job description so candidates know who signs off.
A practice with clinics in several states cannot use one MA job description everywhere. Keep a short list of permitted duties per state and attach it to each posting.
National pay
National annual wages for medical assistants, May 2025. Our medical assistant salary guide has more detail by level.
Middle half of all workers (25th to 75th percentile)
Half of all medical assistants earn between $38,470 and $49,180, a band of about $10,700. That is why a modest raise or a better schedule often wins a candidate. Entry-level and uncertified MAs cluster near the 10th percentile ($36,050). Certified MAs with specialty or lead experience reach the 75th percentile, and the 90th ($59,310) is mostly seen in West Coast metros. Annual pay, all U.S. employers, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), occupation: Medical Assistants. Pay by level and city: Medical Assistant salary guide.
29 metros
BLS metro estimates, May 2025. Location quotient is the local share of jobs divided by the national share. Market-by-market notes live on our healthcare staffing pages.
| Market | Jobs | Median pay · vs. U.S. | Concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | 44,060 | $48,370+6% | 0.88 |
| Los Angeles | 39,770 | $47,760+5% | 1.21 |
| Dallas | 20,560 | $43,100−6% | 0.97 |
| Miami | 18,670 | $44,930−2% | 1.26 |
| Houston | 18,280 | $42,110−8% | 1.06 |
| Atlanta | 16,910 | $46,060+1% | 1.11 |
| Chicago | 15,640 | $47,270+3% | 0.66 |
| Phoenix | 15,410 | $46,830+2% | 1.23 |
| San Francisco | 14,320 | $59,790+31% | 1.15 |
| Washington, DC | 13,890 | $46,640+2% | 0.84 |
| Philadelphia | 13,150 | $45,890±0% | 0.86 |
| Detroit | 12,400 | $39,410−14% | 1.24 |
| Boston | 10,750 | $50,740+11% | 0.76 |
| Seattle | 10,210 | $61,500+35% | 0.93 |
| San Diego | 9,370 | $49,420+8% | 1.16 |
| Tampa | 9,310 | $44,480−3% | 1.22 |
| Baltimore | 8,170 | $46,790+2% | 1.15 |
| Minneapolis | 7,390 | $52,570+15% | 0.72 |
| Denver | 6,440 | $49,700+9% | 0.76 |
| Portland | 6,390 | $56,240+23% | 1.01 |
| Nashville | 6,340 | $44,620−2% | 1.10 |
| Charlotte | 6,060 | $46,520+2% | 0.85 |
| Austin | 5,830 | $45,820±0% | 0.86 |
| Pittsburgh | 4,810 | $42,840−6% | 0.82 |
| Providence | 4,120 | $47,020+3% | 1.10 |
| Raleigh-Durham | 3,810 | $46,160+1% | 0.98 |
| Hartford | 3,270 | $46,880+3% | 1.04 |
| Buffalo | 2,310 | $44,650−2% | 0.82 |
| Albany | 1,390 | $44,870−2% | 0.59 |
Seattle pays the highest median on the table ($61,500), and Washington's MA-C credential adds a step for out-of-state hires. San Francisco ($59,790) and Portland ($56,240) follow. Miami (1.26), Detroit (1.24), Phoenix (1.23) and Tampa (1.22) have the deepest pools relative to their size, and Detroit's median of $39,410 is the lowest we track. New York City (44,060 jobs) and Los Angeles (39,770) are the largest markets. Albany (0.59) and Chicago (0.66) are the thinnest. Medical Assistants, by metro area, sorted by jobs. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; U.S. median $45,690. Concentration is the BLS location quotient: above 1.0 means the job is a bigger share of local employment than nationally.
Outlook
Medical assistant employment is on track for much faster than average growth in BLS projections. Expect about 109,700 openings a year nationally. That is roughly one opening for every eight MA jobs that exist today, so expect to hire this role again and keep a short list of backup candidates. Temporary staffing can cover gaps while you recruit.
National figures for Medical Assistants, as published on O*NET OnLine.
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FAQ
Medical assistants take patient histories and vital signs, help providers with exams, collect lab specimens and enter data into the medical record. Some give injections or medications as state law permits. Administrative MAs schedule appointments, answer phones and help with insurance forms. BLS says MAs often focus on one side, clinical or administrative, though some do both. About 56% work in physicians' offices.
Neither is better in general. The CMA (AAMA) requires graduation from an accredited program or an approved alternative pathway, so it signals formal training. The RMA (AMT) also accepts candidates with years of work experience, which helps when you want proven clinic hands. Many employers accept CMA, RMA, CCMA or NCMA. If your state has its own credential, such as Washington's MA-C, that requirement comes first.
In most states, no. BLS says most states do not require certification, but employers may prefer or require it, and some states require certification, an accredited program or other steps for certain duties. Washington requires its own Medical Assistant-Certified credential. If you hire uncertified MAs, set a deadline after hire for them to certify and support the exam fee.
Yes. Temporary staffing covers leaves, flu season and new clinic openings. Contract-to-hire lets you see an MA work with your providers and EHR before you make a permanent offer. For steady roles, direct hire is usually simpler. In each case, Careerscape's recruiters screen clinical skills and verify credentials with the issuing body.
Look through current medical assistant openings, or upload a resume for a recruiter to review. There is no fee for MAs, and a search while employed stays between you and your recruiter. List your credential, the EHRs you know and any specialty experience, such as dermatology or pediatrics, so recruiters can match you quickly to the right clinic.
Temporary coverage and permanent hires start the same way: a quick call about duties, credentials and your state's rules. A healthcare recruiter will take it from there.
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