What is it like to be a medical assistant?

Would being a medical assistant be a good choice (to start off) in New York City? What's the pay like? Please!?

• I'm 20 years old and I'm at home with my family. I am interested in the medical field but I don't know exactly on what area, I like phlebotomy and lab work, as well as ...show more

• Answer:

  Starting Medical Receptionist Salaries Novices to the field of medical receptionist should expect wages to be low regardless of the region the job is located in. Often times a high school education is all that is required to get this position; this results in an inordinate amount of qualified applicants as compared to the number of openings available. Such a set-up mimics the commerce supply and demand law. Since supplies of qualified applicants are basically limitless and the demand for receptionist jobs is limited by economic factors, employers can benchmark pay at lower rates because the position is highly sought out. With such a high number of potential employees, employers know the odds of finding someone willing to work at or slightly above minimum wage are greatly increased. Expect entry level and low experience salaries to be in the neighborhood of $7.36 – $13.37 per hour. Average Salaries as Related to Healthcare Sector Assuming a full-time work schedule at 40 hours per week, the average medical receptionist earns somewhere between $9.37 and $16.21 per hour. Once the particular area of healthcare is specified, the natural variations in the price range are clarified. Medical receptionists employed by general physicians’ offices earned roughly $12.72 an hour which is quite similar to the overall average. Interestingly enough, medical receptionists employed by dentists, hospitals, and medical laboratories tended to have wages higher than average, while their cohorts employed by long-term care facilities, optometrists, and mental health practitioners reported below average wages. It is highly regarded that education and occupation backgrounds are the greatest influences on medical receptionist salaries. While this is true, one must also consider location, industry, and certifications as equally important wage determining influences.