What Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants this way: "Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations"; "Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff"; "Receive and route messages or documents, such as laboratory results, to appropriate staff"; "Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff"; "Interview patients to complete documents, case histories, or forms, such as intake or insurance forms".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is high school diploma or equivalent. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is moderate-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 979,000 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 1,026,100 in 2035, an increase of 47,100 jobs (+4.8%). That is faster than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 89,200 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 9.1% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $45,930, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants earn the most
Across the 25 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $40,560 in Tennessee to $55,600 in Washington, a gap of $15,039 (1.37 times). 13 of those 25 states average above the BLS national median of $45,930 and 12 average at or below it.
California employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 111,470, which is 11.0% of the 1,014,910 counted across them. Florida follows with 93,310.
Highest-paying states
Washington ($55,600), California ($53,773) and Oregon ($51,389) lead the ranking, while Tennessee ($40,560) and Michigan ($41,991) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants: pay against the cost of living
We compare 35 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Jefferson County, WV (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV) at $19,705. The weakest market is Kings County, NY, where the basics cost $1,303 more than take-home pay.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 34 of the 35 markets and falls short in 1. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 32.0% and 82.7% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Occupations related to Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants, Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants and Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive belong to the same detailed SOC group. Other occupations in the same SOC minor group (43-6000) include .
Frequently asked questions about Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
How much do Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $45,930. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $40,560 to $55,600.
Which state pays Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants the most?
Washington, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $55,600. California is next at $53,773.
Is Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to grow by 4.8% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 89,200 openings a year.
What education do Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants need?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.
Where can Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Jefferson County, WV leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $19,705 on a median wage of $48,280.