medical assisting compensation and benefits report 2013
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AAMA 2013 Medical Assisting Compensation and Benefits Report 1 of 5
American Association of Medical Assistants
2013 Medical Assisting Compensation and
Benefits ReportCompensationBoth hourly pay rates and annual gross salaries were collected on the survey. Over 96 percent of full-time medical assistants are paid hourly, while roughly 4 percent are paid by annual salary.
By CMA (AAMA) certification
Average hourly wages and salary vary according to years of experience for all medical assistants surveyed. Full-time medical assistants holding a current CMA (AAMA) certification earn an average of $15.35 per hour or an average annual sal-ary of $29,889. These earnings are above the averages of $14.29 or $27,914 collected for full-time medical assistants who have not achieved CMA (AAMA) certifica-tion and may or may not hold another type of medical assisting certification. Comparisons for full-time CMAs (AAMA) and non-CMAs (AAMA) are broken down by years of experience in Table 1. Employers are not only paying higher wages for the CMA (AAMA), they are also increasingly demanding that their medical assistants have a CMA (AAMA) credential. Every day the AAMA responds to more than 100 employer requests for CMA (AAMA) certification verification—for both current and potential employees.
Medical assistants across the country enthusiasti-cally participated in the
2013 Compensation and Benefits Survey, conducted by the American Association of Medical Assistants. More than 4,400 medical assistants completed the survey. The AAMA e-mailed an elec-tronic questionnaire to a random sampling of more than 35,000 medi-cal assistants and medical assisting educators. Most of the participants were CMAs (AAMA) (88 percent) and members of the AAMA (94 percent). The large number of participants ensures that the results have a high degree of statistical reliability.
Statistical reliability and terms usedThe overall margin of error for the 4,438 responses is ±1.5 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. Margin of error describes the statistical reli-ability of the sample as an estimate of the population. The margin of error should be treated only as an approximation, since margin of error calculations are based on pure ran-dom selection, which is not achievable in traditional survey settings where response is voluntary. The ±1.5 per-cent margin of error applies to overall statistics based on the total respon-dents to the survey—smaller break-out groups presented throughout the report have higher margins of error. Judgments based on statistics with very low sample sizes should be made with caution. Statistics are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Such demand is often due to the pressures of potential malpractice suits and the certi-fication mandates placed on employers by managed care organizations.1 Additionally, on August 23, 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ruled that only “credentialed medical assis-tants”—including CMAs (AAMA)—as well as licensed health care professionals, would be allowed to enter medication, laboratory, and radiology orders into the computerized provider order entry sys-tem for meaningful use purposes for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs .2 The CMA (AAMA) must have current status to use the credential, including for qualify-ing to enter orders for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
By geographic region
The average annual earnings and hourly wages were computed for geographic regions of the United States (Figure 1). The Pacific region showed the highest earn-ings for full-time current CMAs (AAMA), with averages of $33,322 annually and $17.60 hourly. Across the country, New England turned in the second highest annual earnings ($30,997), while the West North Central region showed the second
Overall 0–2 years 3–5 years 6–9 years 10–15 years 16 years +
Full-time CMAs (AAMA)$15.35 29,889
$13.44 25,848
$14.83 28,158
$15.67 30,756
$16.96 32,954
$18.16 36,038
Full-time Non-CMAs (AAMA)
14.2927,914
13.2525,658
14.3026,340
15.6929,821
17.7235,300
18.2837,528
Table 1. CMA (AAMA) certification Average full-time medical assistant pay by years of experience
Central
NewEngland
South Atlantic
East SouthCentral
West SouthCentral
West NorthCentral
Mountain
Paci�c(Includes Alaska
and Hawaii)
Table 2. Geographic region Average full-time CMA (AAMA) pay by years of experience
Region Overall 0–2 years 3–5 years 6–9 years 10–15 years 16 years +
New England$15.93
30,997 $14.54 28,353
$15.24 28,929
$15.97 31,833
$17.2534,150
$18.8936,795
Middle Atlantic15.2229,756
13.6527,063
14.5828,000
14.7530,056
17.5632,750
18.7336,071
East North Central14.6728,614
12.9125,189
14.4427,540
15.1229,490
16.1731,091
17.2333,991
West North Central16.1530,871
13.8526,098
15.1829,205
16.2530,672
17.2532,431
18.7436,075
South Atlantic14.5428,619
12.6324,154
13.9526,835
14.8930,102
16.3331,555
17.4535,629
East South Central14.1328,712
12.0723,328
**
13.8326,316
15.9436,967
16.6134,583
West South Central14.7530,450
12.0023,806
* *
17.3335,400
**
*37,318
Mountain15.0630,208
13.4225,641
14.7927,820
15.2829,875
17.12 36,100
16.9636,921
Pacific17.6033,322
15.5028,944
17.3431,438
17.9435,235
18.6335,726
21.1440,821
* Insufficient response
Northeast
Midwest
South
West
Figure 1.
2013 compensation and benefits report
Regions based on the United States Census divisionshighest hourly wages ($16.15). The full comparison is shown in Table 2.
By work setting
The overwhelming majority of medical assistants surveyed work in physicians’ offices. Almost 87 percent of respondents are employed in that setting, with roughly 2.6 percent listed in emergency and outpa-tient hospital departments, 1.1 percent in ambulatory surgery and another 7.4 per-cent in “other.” The breakdown of wages and earnings by work setting is shown in Table 3. Figures for inpatient hospital care, nursing homes, home and hospice care, and residential care are not listed due to insufficient response numbers.
* Insufficient response
AAMA 2013 Medical Assisting Compensation and Benefits Report 2 of 5
Work setting Overall 0–2 years 3–5 years 6–9 years 10–15 years 16 years +
Ambulatory surgery$16.26
32,350 * *
* *
* *
* *
Emergency and outpatient hospital department
15.9433,745
$14.0929,313
*$28,500
**
* *
$17.4034,962
Physician’s office15.3229,749
13.4225,770
14.8228,068
$15.6130,382
$16.9132,689
18.1536,072
Other15.9530,958
13.3623,583
15.4229,583
*34,714
**
18.8336,125
Table 3. Work setting Average full-time CMA (AAMA) pay by years of experience
* Insufficient response
* *
Table 4. Practice specialty Average full-time CMA (AAMA) pay by years of experience
Practice specialty Overall 0–2 years 3–5 years 6–9 years 10–15 years 16 years +
Primary care$14.90
28,858$13.08
25,191$13.9926,482
$15.1129,010
$16.1831,295
$17.7434,835
All other medical and surgical specialties
15.4831,036
13.5926,196
14.6328,423
15.3130,356
16.5433,010
18.0337,602
Other15.4030,043
13.4725,163
14.9228,722
15.7930,412
16.4632,407
17.7936,236
* Insufficient response
Table 4. Practice specialty Average full-time CMA (AAMA) pay by years of experience
Practice specialty Overall 0–2 years 3–5 years 6–9 years 10–15 years 16 years +
Primary care$15.19
29,412$13.23
25,520$14.77
27,871$15.4230,188
$16.8232,214
$18.1835,706
All other medical and surgical specialties
15.7531,004
13.9626,719
14.9428,431
16.0631,343
17.4634,953
18.2137,063
Other15.5430,336
14.0126,672
14.8328,889
16.2332,627
17.2933,648
18.1135,695
* Insufficient response
Number of specialties Overall 0–2 years 3–5 years 6–9 years 10–15 years 16 years +
Single specialty$15.26
29,791$13.3325,488
$14.7928,132
$15.4730,349
$16.7432,616
$18.0036,212
Multispecialty15.4430,062
13.5726,275
14.8928,192
15.8931,187
17.2433,433
18.3236,053
Other15.6229,271
13.3925,500
* *
15.30 30,591
* *
18.9734,192
Table 5. Number of specialties Average full-time CMA (AAMA) pay by years of experience
* Insufficient response
By practice specialty
Sixty-four percent of medical assistants work in a primary care office or practice. Another 32 percent work in practices with medical or surgical specialties. The income figures for practice specialty are shown in Table 4.
By number of specialties
Combining both full- and part-time medical assistant respon-dents, 51 percent work in a single specialty practice, while 45 percent work in a multispecialty setting. The income figures for full-time current CMAs (AAMA) by number of specialties are listed in Table 5.
* Insufficient response
* Insufficient response
* Insufficient response
AAMA 2013 Medical Assisting Compensation and Benefits Report 3 of 5
2013 compensation and benefits report
Employment benefitsRoughly 87 percent of all full-time medical assistants receive some form of benefits package from their employer (Figure 2).
Insurance
Almost 74 percent of full-time medical assistants receive major medical cover-age, 72 percent receive dental coverage, 61 percent receive vision coverage, just under 53 percent receive disability cover-age, and 21 percent receive professional liability coverage. The full range of benefits for full-time medical assistants is shown in Figure 3.
AAMA membership and conference
When asked if employers offer to help pay for various AAMA expenses, almost 20 percent of full-time medical assistants who are AAMA members responded that their employers pay their membership dues in full (Figure 4). In addition, over 11 percent have their annual conference reg-istration fees paid for in full, and another 5.5 percent have travel and lodging paid by their employers.
The American Association of Medical Assistants thanks all the participants who made the 2013 survey possible.
References1. Balasa DA. Why more employers are hiring
CMAs (AAMA). American Association of Medical Assistants. http://www.aama-ntl.org/resources/library/WhyMoreEmpsHireCMA.pdf. Published January 2007. Updated February 2009. Accessed October 7, 2010.
2. Balasa DA. AAMA triumphs in CMS medication order rule. CMA Today. 2012;45(6):6-8.
© 2013 American Association of Medical Assistants. Reprinted from the November/December issue of CMA Today.
Professional liability
Basic hospitalization
Major medical
Discount prescription
Accidental death
Disability
Dental
Vision
None
Other
73.7%71.6%
60.5%52.6%
44.3%
42%40.2%
21.1%
12%8.3% Number of responses = 2,652
Number of responses = 2,649
Benefits received by full-time medical assistants
Do not receive benefits
13%
Receive benefits
87%
Insurance benefits received by full-time medical assistants
19.5%1.8%
11.4%4.5%
3.5%5.5%
FullPartial
AAMA membership dues
AAMA Conference registration fees
AAMA Conference travel and lodging expenses
Figure 4.
Figure 3.
Number of responses = 2,652
Figure 2.
Dues assistance received by full-time medical assistants
19.5%1.8%
11.4%4.5%
3.5%5.5%
FullPartial
AAMA membership dues
AAMA Conference registration fees
AAMA Conference travel and lodging expensesExtended online version! See next page for educator earnings!
AAMA 2013 Medical Assisting Compensation and Benefits Report 4 of 5
Overall $50,985.00
0–2 years $40,530.30
3–5 years $45,500.00
6–9 years $50,861.11
10–15 years $56,593.75
16+ years $59,907.89
Average full-time educator pay by years of experience
Figure 5. Figure 6. Dues assistance received by full-time educatorsInsurance benefits received by full-time educators
Table 6.
Major medical
Dental
Vision
Disability
Accidental death
Discount prescription
Basic hospitalization
Professional liability
None
Other
6.3%
6.3%
6
6
84.6%8
81.3%65.8%
63.8%6656.3%5555.0%55
53.8%55
18.3%
6 3%6
1
Medical assisting educators were also surveyed for this report. (See page one for the survey overview.)
The majority of medical assisting educators (84 percent) receive their compensation in the form of an annual salary, while around 16 percent are paid hourly.
Compensation On average, full-time medical assisting educa-tors reported earning an annual gross salary of $50,985, with over 20 percent reporting that they earn at least $65,000 annually, and over 9 percent reporting over $75,000 in annual earnings. The breakdown of educators’ salaries by years of experience is shown in Table 6.
Employment benefits
Insurance
Almost 85 percent of full-time educators receive major medical coverage and 81 percent receive dental insurance. Discount prescription coverage, accidental death, vision, and basic hospitalization all were over 50 percent rates. Rates of coverage for full-time educators are listed in Figure 5.
AAMA membership and conference
When asked if employers offer to help pay for various AAMA expenses, 54 percent of full-time educators reported full payment of membership dues and 47 percent reported full payment of conference registration fees. Almost 40 percent reported full payment of travel and lodging for conference (Figure 6).
AAMA membership dues
AAMA Annual Conference registration fees
Travel and lodging expenses to the AAMA Annual Conference
54.4%2.1%
47.0%12.7%
39.8%13.1%
FullPartial Number of responses = 240
2013 Medical Assisting Educator Compensation
and Benefits Report
American Association of Medical Assistants
AAMA 2013 Medical Assisting Compensation and Benefits Report 5 of 5
Number of responses = 240
19.5%1.8%
11.4%4.5%
3.5%5.5%
FullPartial
AAMA membership dues
AAMA Conference registration fees
AAMA Conference travel and lodging expenses
Number of responses = 240
Number of responses = 237