Medical Assistants
SOC Code: 31-9092 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Medical Assistants. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $48,693 | $57,450 | $66,186 | $74,942 |
| Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $43,909 | $53,560 | $63,211 | $72,862 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,299 | $55,370 | $63,440 | $71,510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $47,445 | $54,974 | $62,483 | $70,013 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $45,531 | $53,602 | $61,693 | $69,763 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44,512 | $52,915 | $61,298 | $69,701 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $42,286 | $50,294 | $58,323 | $66,331 |
| Napa, CA | $44,491 | $51,730 | $58,947 | $66,186 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $47,174 | $52,853 | $58,531 | $64,210 |
| Modesto, CA | $39,998 | $46,925 | $53,872 | $60,798 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 | |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | |
| Speaking | 3.9 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 | |
| Monitoring | 3.5 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.5 | |
| Coordination | 3.5 | |
| Writing | 3.4 | |
| Active Learning | 3.2 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| English Language | 4.8 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.5 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 4.3 |
| Administrative | 4.1 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.8 |
| Education and Training | 3.5 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.2 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 3.0 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some college | 44.7% |
| High school diploma | 20.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 17.5% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 17.2% |
Typical Tasks
- Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
- Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
- Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
- Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician.
- Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
- Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
- Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
- Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Epic Systems Intuit QuickBooks MEDITECH software Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Word eClinicalWorks EHR software Appointment scheduling software Billing software Bookkeeping software Business software applications
Calculate your wage level for Medical Assistants →
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