A Scrubbed-Down Guide to Medical Assistant Salaries

You've been interested in a medical career from the time you got your first toy stethoscope. But a grown-up career deserves a grown-up paycheck—not Monopoly money. So will medical assistant salaries allow you to live your childhood dream while taking care of your grown-up responsibilities? Read on to learn more.

One thing to consider when weighing your medical assistant salary options is where to work. A cozy pediatrician's office with brightly colored toys on a tree-lined street might suit you just fine. Or a high-profile hospital complete with swinging emergency room doors and a flurry of fast-moving colleagues might energize you every day.

Top on the list to fatten your paycheck? A degree. According to PayScale.com, "If you're just getting started as a medical assistant, education can provide a competitive edge when it comes to applying for jobs or negotiating salary offers."

The salary site revealed that the maximum medical assistant salary without a degree is $31,423, whereas a medical assistant salary for those holding an Associate of Science could be as high as $45,769. That's a cool $14,346.

It's no secret that health care is one of today's fastest-growing industries—which means that medical assistant careers are poised to grow 34 percent by 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Thanks to a rise in the population, technological advances, and an increasing emphasis on preventative care, medical assistants are in higher-demand than ever.

A medical assistant degree is also a great stepping stone to other medical careers. Experienced medical assistants may be promoted to office manager or clinical supervisor, or you can parlay your expertise to become a medical assistant teacher. If you're ready to have your pick of jobs, why not enroll in a medical assistant program now?