The Salary for a Medical Assistant in Richmond, VA
A medical assistant escorts patients to exam rooms and treatment areas, checks their blood pressure and pulse rate and interviews them about any current symptoms and their medical history. She also keeps the rooms stocked and clean during the workday. The medical assistant schedules appointments, completes insurance forms, enters patient data into the computer and creates invoices. The salary for a medical assistant in Richmond, Va., generally is similar to the national average for this occupation.
Other People Are Reading
-
Comparisons
-
The median annual salary for medical assistants in Richmond was about $28,960 as of February 2011, according to Salary.com. That's a bit lower than the national median salary for medical assistants, at $29,670 per year. The salary also is comparable to medical assistant pay in other cities in the area, including Newport News, where these workers make $28,400 per year on average, and Charlottesville at $28,030 and Petersburg at $29,310. In contrast, medical assistants in the nearby District of Columbia enjoy the highest average pay rates in the country, at $37,790 per year, notes the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Salary Range
-
The middle 50 percent of medical assistants on the earnings scale in Richmond were making $26,470 to $31,660 per year in February 2011, says Salary.com. The bottom 10 percent had annual salaries below $24,210, and the top 10 percent were making more than $34,110. Nationwide, the middle 50 percent of medical assistants were earning $27,120 to $32,440 per year, with the bottom 10 percent making less than $24,810 and the top 10 percent more than $34,950.
-
Specifics
-
The job search website Indeed.com shows more than 500 job openings for medical assistants throughout Virginia in February 2011. Medical assistants may be able to choose a specific type of health care that interests them, as positions were available in allergy clinics, a bone and joint center, children's hospitals, fertility and reproductive sciences, general medical centers, a liver institute, neurology clinics, pediatrics, plastic surgery, surgical centers and women's clinics. Posted hourly pay rates ranged from about $11 to $15, and annual pay rates from $28,000 to $40,000.
Qualifications
-
Although many medical assistants receive on-the-job training, some employers prefer or require candidates with professional certification. To become a certified medical assistant, or CMA, an individual must complete formal training and pass an exam from a professional organization. For networking in Richmond and other Virginia cities, consider joining the Virginia Society of Medical Assistants, which serves more than 300 members throughout the state.
-
References
- Salary.com: Medical Assistant - U.S. National Averages
- Salary.com: Medical Assistant - Richmond
- Salary.com: Medical Assistant - Petersburg
- Salary.com: Medical Assistant - Charlottesville
- Salary.com: Medical Assistant - Newport News
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Assistants Occupational Employment and Wages
Resources
- Photo Credit assistant image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com
