Why do medical assistants get paid so little?

Well, you might be making the same as someone flipping burgers, but I guarantee your working environment is much more pleasant and you don't come home smelling like fried grease. You most likely have better health insurance benefits and better working conditions. Stay with the current practice for at least a year and then start looking at other practices or specialties.

For better or worse the degree is mostly a little bit more than a clinical secretary and it's a dime a dozen degree with MA graduates popping everywhere. At least you are able to shadow the doctor at the practice and watch interesting eye procedures but you are not qualified to be a nurse. At least you have a bit of job security and could look for other offices elsewhere in hopes of being paid a little bit more but don't have very high hopes.