The Average Salary of a Medical Assistant in Colorado

Medical assistants in Colorado earn comfortable wages.

Due to the rapidly growing healthcare industry, the need for medical assistants is expected to be at a record-high level in the state of Colorado. These healthcare professionals perform a wide range of administrative and clinical duties and work in the offices of physicians, podiatrists and chiropractors as well as in other medical facilities. Common responsibilities include recording vital signs, explaining treatments or procedures, and assisting doctors during tests and surgeries. The average salary of a medical assistant in Colorado can vary depending on several factors.

Qualifications

Technically, there are no formal educational requirements for medical assistants in Colorado. However, most have obtained a high school diploma as well as completed a one- or two-year training program. Common areas of study include insurance processing, record keeping, medical terminology, physiology and anatomy. Many medical assistant students also complete internships while finishing school before they are officially hired. Certification is not required to work legally as a medical assistant, but many decide to obtain it to be more competitive in the job market. The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) is a commonly selected association for certification.

Location

The level of demand as well as cost of living from city to city within Colorado may have an influence on medical assistant salaries. The statewide average salary in Colorado is $31,640 a year, but some cities, such as Aurora and Lakewood, pay an average of only $29,000 a year. In a larger city with a higher cost of living, such as Denver, the wages can be higher. The average salary for a medical assistant in Denver is $33,830 annually, according to Allied Health World in November 2010.

Type of Assistant

Medical assistants have the option of specializing in certain areas of medicine; salaries may differ between these. For example, in Colorado Springs, the average medical assistant earns $34,706 a year, but a nurse assistant only earns $29,330 a year. Dental assistants tend to have more specialized training, but frequently earn higher wages as well. Dental assistants working in Colorado Springs can expect an average of $37,343 a year.

Industry

Most medical assistants average a similar salary nationwide regardless of industry. However, there are some industries that prove to be exceptions. The most common type of employer for medical assistants is a physician's office, which pays a national average of $29,810 a year. However, medical assistants employed for scientific research and development services can expect stiff job competition but an annual mean wage of $33,810. The highest-paying employers in the U.S. for medical assistants are psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals. Medical assistants at these facilities can average $46,430 annually.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Assistants, 2010-11
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Assistants Wages, May 2009
• Economic Research Institute: Medical Assistant Salary Survey Data in Colorado Springs, Colorado, 2011
• Allied Health World: Salary for Medical Assistant in Colorado, November 26, 2010