Job growth in the medical assistant profession is incredibly high. These are the best states to find work as a medical assistant.
Top 10 States to Work as a Medical Assistant
Job growth in the medical assistant profession is incredibly high. Medical assistants across the U.S. are in demand for positions in hospitals, doctor offices, clinics, mental health facilities, insurance companies, laboratories, and colleges. With so much opportunity, medical assistants can choose to work in their home state or move to another state for even more opportunities. As the number of the aging population continues to grow rapidly, medical assistants are in very high demand with job growth outlook rates at almost 30 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Examining medical assistants across the U.S., the median annual salary was a little less than $34,000, according to those same statistics. These are the best states to find work as a medical assistant.
Alaska
The average salary for a medical assistant in Alaska is about $45,500. This is the highest state average in the nation. In addition to wages more than $10,000 above the national median, Alaska also has a local employment rate for medical assistants greater than the national average. The cost of living in Alaska is high compared to other states, meaning more of that high salary goes to the basic costs of living.
District of Columbia
The nation’s capital, Washington D.C., boasts the second highest average salary for medical assistants at around $42,000 per year. It has a lower number of employed medical assistants than the national average, but working as a medical assistant in the area gives opportunities for careers in federal government service working in clinics and hospitals that provide care for veterans. Quick train access to the surrounding areas around the capital, which form the D.C metro area, means prospects for employment extend even right outside of the district as well.
Washington
The state of Washington is third on the list with an average annual salary for medical assistants of $41,340, with higher wages for those in the Seattle and Olympia areas. Employment in proportion to the population is about on par with the national average. Not only can a job as a medical assistant pay well in Washington, but U.S. News and World Report ranks it as the best state to live in based on a wide range of economic, environmental, and social living factors.
Minnesota
The average salary for a medical assistant in Minnesota is just over $40,000, but Minnesota has a lot of opportunity for people starting a career. A Wallethub poll finds Minnesota to be one of the top five best states to live in for Millennials. The state boasts a low unemployment rate of just under 3 percent that is especially helpful for new graduates.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts has an average salary for medical assistants of $40,270 and plenty to offer new graduates. From social events to living indicators, the greater Boston area is one of the top cities for young professionals, according to Forbes. Part of this rating comes from Massachusetts’ high ranking in health and medical care. This attention to the medical industry provides plenty of jobs for medical assistants.
Connecticut
A medical assistant in Connecticut can look forward to an average salary of $38,350. The employment rate per population size is exactly on target with the national average. The state is especially a fit for outdoor enthusiasts. Connecticut is also home to large state parks and plenty to do outside to help facilitate a work-life balance.
Oregon
With an average salary in Oregon of $38,260 for medical assistants, Oregon comes in at the seventh highest annual salary across the U.S. Out of the top ten states that pay medical assistants the most, Oregon also has the highest number of medical assistants in employment in proportion to the number of residents in the state. The demand for medical assistants in Oregon remains high.
California
Just a few dollars lower than Oregon, the average salary for medical assistants in California is $38,250. Although California ranks eight on the list of highest salaries, it is an economically diverse state. The greater Los Angeles and greater San Francisco areas have some of the largest levels of employment for medical assistants in the U.S., and average salaries for medical assistants in San Francisco is $45,640.
Hawaii
Medical assistants can earn one of the top ten salaries in the country and live in paradise in Hawaii. The average salary for a medical assistant in Hawaii is $38,040. Job hunting is a bit easier in this state with an unemployment rate in Hawaii at 2.4 percent, according to U.S. News and World Report. The state does have a high cost of living, but there are plenty of opportunities for free activities while exploring the island chain.
New York
New York rounds out the list of the top ten states for medical assistants based on salary with an average salary for medical assistants in New York at $37,560. It also has one of the highest concentrations of employment in the U.S. for medical assistants. Most of this employment occurs within the New York City metropolitan area rather than the suburban or upstate regions. With all of the well-known hospitals and doctors in the New York City area, it is no wonder New York has high employment and higher than average salaries.
New graduates from programs in medical assistant training can look forward to a very encouraging job market across the U.S. Variation in salary and job outlook between states stems from differences in demand, cost of living, and employment rate. These are the states with the best economic outlook for medical assistants based on salary.
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