If you are looking for information about the emoluments offered to medical office assistants, this article will be a helpful read.
Medical office assistants mainly engage in administrative tasks. However, these professionals are known to perform clinical jobs as well, apart from managing the day-to-day administration of the doctor’s office. Taking important calls, fixing appointments, attending to people at the reception, and storing useful patient data are some of the duties preformed by these medical assistants. Though most get jobs in a physician’s office, there are many who work for top-notch hospitals, clinics, and healthcare centers.
Most of them report to the office manager, who is further responsible to discuss things related to office administration with the doctors. The assistants also have to do back office jobs whenever required. Individuals who prove themselves can get promoted to the level of a medical office manager.
Before we know about the salary details, we need to be aware of the courses and training required for these jobs.
The job requires you to take science subjects like anatomy or biology in high school and complete your graduation. A good background in these subjects is essential for all those who wish to enter this competitive medical field.
Apart from this qualification, computer handling skills, bookkeeping, communication skills, and a pleasant personality is a must for office assistants. You will find it easier to get a job if you have certification from American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
The course is a rigorous one and requires you to study the following subjects:
- Diagnostic and clinical procedures
- Administration of medicine
- Patient relations
- Insurance claim settling
- Medical billing and coding
- Medical laws
Salaries for Medical Office Assistants
The salary of a medical office assistant largely depends on the following important factors:
- Educational qualification of the candidate
- Age
- Skills
- Past work experience
- Job location
- Type of employer
Salaries are high for those having more than five years of experience and those who work in urban locations. Office assistants working for renowned doctors and large hospital chains will certainly earn good money. Entry-level salaries for these professionals can be between USD 25,000 to USD 35,000 per year.
The salaries for those having eight to twelve years of experience can be between USD 30,000 to USD 40,000 per year, while those who have spent more than fifteen years in the industry can make even more. Multitasking abilities will surely help raise the salaries of candidates and hence they should concentrate on improving their skills constantly.
For those interested in federal government jobs, a career as a medical office assistant can be a way of securing your future completely. This job can pay you around USD 30,000 to USD 36,000 in the government sector. Apart from this fixed salary, you are also entitled to federal government benefits and incentives.
Those working at locations like Boston, Dallas, New York, and Chicago make the most money with their salaries ranging between $35,000 to $42,000 per year. At most places, medical assistants are expected to work for at least forty hours in a week. The working hours may be more in private hospitals where they have to attend to many patients. Though they work in luxurious offices, a lot of stamina and concentration is required for this job.