Are Medical Assistants in Demand? Job Outlook Through 2035
The medical assistant job outlook remains strong, with employment projected to grow faster than average through 2035.
Growing healthcare needs are expected to create opportunities in physicians’ offices, hospitals, outpatient centers, and other healthcare settings.
Here’s what the latest job growth, employment, and salary data shows about the future of medical assisting.
What Is the Medical Assistant Job Outlook Through 2035?
The medical assistant job outlook is positive. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of medical assistants to grow 13% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3% average for all occupations.
| Medical Assistant Job Outlook | BLS Data |
|---|---|
| Employment in 2025 | 833,900 |
| Projected employment in 2035 | 941,500 |
| Projected growth | 13% |
| New jobs projected | 107,600 |
| Average openings per year | 109,700 |
| Median annual pay | $45,690 |
One number that can be confusing is the difference between 107,600 new jobs and 109,700 openings per year. The 107,600 figure represents the projected increase in medical assistant jobs over the full 10-year period.
The annual openings figure is higher because it also includes jobs that need to be filled when workers change careers, retire, or otherwise leave the workforce.
In practical terms, BLS expects the occupation to grow from about 833,900 medical assistants in 2025 to 941,500 by 2035. Medical assistants are also among the occupations projected to add the most jobs over this period.
Why Is Demand for Medical Assistants Growing?
More medical assistants will be needed as the demand for healthcare continues to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an aging population is one of the factors expected to increase the need for medical services.
An Aging U.S. Population
As people get older, they typically need more medical care. A growing older population means more patients visiting doctors, managing ongoing health conditions, and receiving routine care.
Growing Demand for Healthcare Services
As patient demand increases, healthcare facilities need enough staff to keep up. Medical assistants are part of those teams in physicians’ offices, hospitals, outpatient care centers, and other healthcare settings.
Medical Assistants Handle Clinical and Administrative Work
Medical assistants can take on several responsibilities during a patient visit, including:
- Taking vital signs
- Recording patient histories
- Preparing patients for exams
- Collecting specimens
- Scheduling appointments
- Updating medical records
BLS expects the growing demand for healthcare services to increase the need for medical assistants who can handle these routine clinical and administrative tasks.
How Does Medical Assistant Job Growth Compare With Other Careers?
Medical assisting is projected to grow much faster than the average U.S. occupation.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for medical assistants is projected to grow 13% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3% for all occupations.
| Occupation | Projected Growth, 2025–2035 |
|---|---|
| Medical assistants | 13% |
| All occupations | 3% |
That puts the projected growth rate for medical assistants at more than four times the rate for all occupations.
How Many Medical Assistant Jobs Will Be Available Each Year?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 109,700 openings for medical assistants each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035.
Those openings come from two main sources:
- New positions: Medical assistant employment is projected to increase as demand for healthcare services grows.
- Replacement openings: Existing positions need to be filled when workers change careers, retire, or leave the workforce.
This is why annual openings are much higher than the number of new jobs added each year. BLS projects 107,600 new medical assistant jobs over the full 10-year period, compared with an average of 109,700 total openings each year when replacement needs are included.
Where Do Medical Assistants Work?
Medical assistants work in several types of healthcare facilities, but physicians’ offices employ the largest share. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants are most commonly employed in:
| Healthcare Setting | Share of Medical Assistant Employment |
|---|---|
| Physicians’ offices | 56% |
| Hospitals | 17% |
| Outpatient care centers | 10% |
| Offices of other health practitioners | 8% |
More than half of medical assistants work in physicians’ offices, while hospitals and outpatient care centers are also major employers. The type of setting can affect a medical assistant’s daily responsibilities, schedule, and work environment.
What Is the Current Medical Assistant Salary?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for medical assistants was $45,690 per year, or $21.97 per hour, in May 2025.
Pay varies across the occupation:
- Lowest 10%: Earned less than $36,050 per year
- Median pay: $45,690 per year
- Highest 10%: Earned more than $59,310 per year
Pay can vary based on location, employer, experience, and work setting. For example, medical assistants working in hospitals may earn differently than those working in physicians’ offices or outpatient care centers.
What Could the Medical Assistant Job Outlook Mean for Future Medical Assistants?
For people considering medical assisting, the projected growth suggests a continued need for trained workers over the next decade.
Future medical assistants may find opportunities in several settings:
- Physicians’ offices
- Hospitals
- Outpatient care centers
- Offices of other health practitioners
Preparing for the field means developing both clinical and administrative skills, from taking vital signs and preparing patients for exams to updating medical records and scheduling appointments.
Certification may also be worth considering. Employer and state requirements vary, but earning a credential such as the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) can show employers that you have completed relevant training and passed a national certification exam.
The job outlook is encouraging, but it does not guarantee employment. Hiring can vary by location, employer, experience, and qualifications.
How Can You Prepare for a Medical Assistant Career?
Preparing for a medical assistant career involves learning the clinical and administrative skills used on the job and preparing for certification.
Advanced eClinical Training’s Medical Assistant program is 100% online and self-paced and can be completed in as little as 8 weeks. The program includes:
- CCMA exam preparation: Prepares students for the NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam.
- Clinical skills training: Covers patient care, phlebotomy, EKGs, vital signs, and other clinical skills.
- Virtual patient simulations: Gives students opportunities to practice applying what they learn.
- CCMA exam: The first NHA CCMA exam attempt is included with tuition.
- Optional externship: Eligible students may have the opportunity to complete a clinical externship through ACT’s healthcare partner network.
- Career support: Includes resume support, interview preparation, and employer-matching resources.
Learn more about Advanced eClinical Training’s Medical Assistant program, including the curriculum, tuition, and certification preparation.
Start Preparing for a Career in Medical Assisting With ACT
Advanced eClinical Training offers an online Medical Assistant program designed to prepare students for the NHA CCMA exam and the skills used in medical assisting.
| ACT Medical Assistant Program | Program Details |
|---|---|
| Training format | 100% online and self-paced |
| Completion time | As little as 8 weeks |
| CCMA exam pass rate | 97%* |
| Students trained | 10,000+ |
| Healthcare and clinical partners | 1,000+ |
| Optional externship | 160 hours for eligible students |
| Course access | Up to 12 months |
With flexible online training, certification preparation, and career support, ACT gives students a structured way to prepare for their next step in medical assisting.
Explore Advanced eClinical Training’s Medical Assistant program
FAQs About the Medical Assistant Job Outlook
Yes. Medical assistants are in demand, with employment projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2035.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects medical assistant employment to grow 13% from 2025 to 2035.
About 109,700 medical assistant openings are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. This includes new jobs as well as openings created when workers leave the occupation or workforce.
Yes. Medical assistant employment is projected to increase from about 833,900 jobs in 2025 to 941,500 jobs in 2035.
Demand is increasing as an aging population requires more healthcare services. Medical assistants help healthcare teams with both clinical and administrative tasks, such as taking vital signs, preparing patients, updating medical records, and scheduling appointments.
Physicians’ offices employ the largest share of medical assistants at 56%. Medical assistants also work in hospitals, outpatient care centers, and offices of other health practitioners.
The median pay for medical assistants was $45,690 per year, or $21.97 per hour, in May 2025. Pay can vary based on location, experience, employer, and work setting.
Certification is not universally required to work as a medical assistant, and requirements can vary by employer and state. However, earning a credential such as the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) can demonstrate your training and knowledge to potential employers.
Why Employers Prefer Advanced eClinical Training Graduates
Graduates of Advanced eClinical Training stand out in the hiring process because they complete a structured, outcome-driven training pathway that prepares them for real healthcare environments — not just exams.
Unlike candidates from programs that focus only on coursework, Advanced eClinical Training graduates bring validated skills, clinical experience, & job readiness from day one.
1. ACE-Approved, College-Level Curriculum
Advanced eClinical Training delivers a curriculum reviewed by the American Council on Education ensuring:
✔ College credit–eligible training
✔ Alignment with higher education standards
✔ Structured, academically sound instruction
Why employers value this:
It signals that graduates have completed a program that meets recognized academic and professional benchmarks — not informal or unverified training.
2. Verified Clinical Experience
Advanced eClinical Training students complete externships through established healthcare facilities, where they:
✔ Log verified clinical hours
✔ Interact with real patients
✔ Perform clinical tasks in supervised environments
Why employers value this:
Graduates have already worked in clinical settings, reducing uncertainty and making them easier to integrate into care teams.
3. Employer-Aligned Training
The Advanced eClinical Training curriculum is designed around actual clinical workflows and job expectations, including:
✔ Patient intake and vital signs
✔ Medical documentation and EHR usage
✔ Infection control and safety protocols
✔ Day-to-day responsibilities of medical assistants
Why employers value this:
Graduates are trained on the exact skills used in real healthcare roles, not just theoretical concepts.
4. Nationally Recognized Credentials and Standar
ACT is aligned with major workforce and regulatory frameworks, including:
✔ U.S. Department of Labor standards
✔ Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) pathways
✔ ETPL eligibility
✔ State Department of Education licensing
Why employers value this:
These alignments reinforce that training meets workforce expectations and industry standards.
