Medical Assistants vs Nurses salary

Based on data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, Medical Assistants make $38,190 annually, while Nurses make $82,750 per year. As a result, Nurses earn a wage that is significantly higher than Medical Assistants.

However, it's worth mentioning that wages can vary depending on factors like location, experience, and the specific setting in which the employee works. As an example, Medical Assistants who work in Washington (with salary averaging $47,320) may earn more than those who work in Louisiana ($30,620). And Nurses in California earn 105% more on average compared to those in South Dakota.

Medical Assistants vs Nurses overview

Medical Assistants and Nurses are two important jobs in the Health Care Services industry. There is a general interest in understanding the differences between these job titles, including the average earnings for each of them.

Medical Assistant job description

Medical Assistants 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.

Medical Assistant education and experience

Of Medical Assistants, 45% have completed a Post-Secondary Certificate, 21% have a High School Diploma, and 17% hold a Bachelor's Degree. In terms of experience, 41% of Medical Assistant jobs require a 6 months to 1 year of experience in the field. A smaller percentage of jobs (20%) require no previous experience.

Medical Assistant average salary

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that the United States had a workforce of 727,760 Medical Assistants in 2021 and on average, they earned $38,190 per year. The lowest earning 10 percent made $29,070 or less, and the highest earning 10 percent made $48,170 or more per year. Compared to the previous year, the average salary is up by 3.4%.

Do Medical Assistants make good money?

Medical Assistants are not typically well paid, as their average salary is about a third lower than the average wage in the United States ($58,260). Furthermore, they earn about a half less than the average wage of the Health Care Services industry ($70,360).

Medical Assistants are not typically well paid, as their average salary is about a third lower than the average wage in the United States ($58,260).

Medical Assistants job growth

In 2021, there have been 17,560 more Medical Assistant positions than the previous year nationwide, which marks a rise of 2.5%. The average job growth over the past 3 years has been 2.6%.

Nurse job description

Alternative names: Registered Nurses, RN

Nurses assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required. Includes Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Nurse education and experience

Most Nurses (56%) have a Bachelor's Degree. But additionally, among employees with this job title, there are also some with a Post-Secondary Certificate (23%) and an Associate's Degree (19%). With regard to experience, about a third of Nurse occupations require a 1 to 2 years of previous work-related experience. A smaller portion of roles (19%) do not require any previous experience.

Nurse average salary

As reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, the number of Nurses employed in the United States was 3.05M, and they earned an average of $82,750 per year. The bottom 10 percent had a salary of $59,450 or less, and the top 10 percent had a salary of $120,250 or more. The average salary has an increase of 3.4% in comparison to the previous year.

Do Nurses make good money?

Nurses are typically paid well, since their mean salary is 42% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260). Moreover, they make 15% more than the mean salary of the Hospitals industry ($72,260).

Nurses are typically paid well, since their mean salary is 42% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260).

Nurses job growth

The hiring of Nurses has risen in the last two years. In 2021, there have been 61,030 more job opportunities than the previous year across the nation, and that shows an increase of 2%. Job growth has averaged 1.1% over the past 3 years.

FAQ

Do Medical Assistants or Nurses make more?

Nurses make 117% more than Medical Assistants. Medical Assistants average around $38,190 per year, while Nurses make $82,750 per year.

How long does it take to become a Medical Assistant vs Nurse?

Becoming a Medical Assistant typically requires a Post-Secondary Certificate. Obtaining a Post-Secondary Certificate usually takes between 1 year and 2 years of study. In contrast, becoming a Nurse typically requires a Bachelor's Degree. Obtaining a Bachelor's Degree usually takes around 4 years of study.

Is it harder to become a Medical Assistant vs Nurse?

It is more difficult to become a Nurse than a Medical Assistant, since it takes 2 more years of education.