In this Article
By: All Allied Health Staff
Texas is one of the best states to become a medical administrative assistant for several key reasons:
Growing demand in major cities:
Texas has a rapidly growing healthcare industry due to its large and diverse population. The state has a high demand for medical administrative assistants, particularly in major metropolitan areas like Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.
Competitive pay:
Medical administrative assistants in Texas earn competitive salaries compared to other states, especially when considering the low cost of living in many areas outside of major cities. While wages vary, the abundance of healthcare jobs often allows for better pay and career advancement.
No state income tax:
One of Texas’s biggest advantages is its lack of state income tax. This means that your take-home pay is higher compared to states with similar salaries but higher taxation.
Opportunity for career advancement:
Essential Courses for Healthcare Administration StudentsThe healthcare industry in Texas is steadily growing, meaning more job openings and career progression opportunities. Many medical administrative assistants eventually move up to office management, billing or coding specializations or healthcare administration roles.
Snapshot of medical administration assistants in Texas
There are around 62,560 people employed as medical administrative assistants in the state of Texas, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). To put this number into perspective, this would equate to nearly five people who work as medical admin assistants for every 1,000 who live in the state. The median wage per hour is $19, and the BLS’ forecasted job growth for the coming decade is 4.2%, faster than the national average.
While median pay for medical admin assistants in Texas is just under the national median, it’s important to note that the cost of living in the state is also lower than the national average, meaning salaries go further for necessities. And since Texas anticipates a growing demand for medical admin assistants and other allied health fields (the BLS says Abilene is #8 on their top 10 for highest concentration of jobs), there are potential work opportunities for this field. Here are five top employers of medical admin assistants in the state:
- Texas Medical Center (TMC), Houston:
- Texas Medical Center is the largest medical complex in the world, consisting of over 60 healthcare institutions, including hospitals, research centers and educational organizations. With so many institutions under one umbrella, there are numerous positions for medical administrative assistants across a variety of departments and specialties.
- Baylor Scott & White Health, Multiple locations:
- Baylor Scott & White Health is one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in Texas. It has hospitals, outpatient centers and specialty clinics across the state. The health system offers a wide range of administrative roles, especially in larger cities like Dallas and Austin.
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston:
- MD Anderson is one of the world’s top cancer treatment centers, and it employs a large number of administrative professionals to support its staff and patients. This institution offers roles in a fast-paced, specialized medical environment, ideal for those who want to work in oncology and related fields.
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas:
- UT Southwestern is a prominent academic medical center known for its hospitals, research and educational programs. It’s affiliated with the University of Texas, so as a major teaching hospital and research institution, UT Southwestern provides a variety of administrative roles in an academic setting.
- HCA Healthcare, Multiple locations:
- HCA Healthcare operates many hospitals, surgery centers and urgent care centers across Texas, including Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. It is one of the largest employers of medical administrative assistants, offering various roles in its extensive healthcare network.
Medical administrative assistants in these organizations perform essential tasks, including:
- Patient scheduling: Coordinating appointments and managing calendars to ensure efficient patient flow.
- Medical record management: Maintaining and updating patient records, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.
- Billing and coding: Processing insurance claims, coding procedures, and managing billing inquiries.
- Communication: Serving as a liaison between patients and healthcare providers, handling inquiries and relaying information.
- Administrative support: Assisting with clerical duties such as data entry, correspondence and supply management.
Salary stats for medical administration assistants in Texas
In Arizona, medical admin assistant salaries depend upon experience, location, employer and other factors. While the median national salary is just over $44,640 a year, it can vary significantly depending on the factors above and whether you have earned certification in an area of specialty.
Median salary in Texas
In Texas, the median yearly income for medical administration assistant professionals rests at $39,560, which is below the median for the entire U.S. However, some aggregated salary sources say the average salary in Texas is closer to $44,500, with most professionals earning between $40,200 and $49,800. Take a look at BLS data and the highest paying cities in the state:
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
10%$31,170
25%$36,390
50%$39,560Median
75%$46,490
90%$52,050
Median Hourly Wage$19
Job growth4.2%
Total Employment72,810
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $44,510 | $36,400 | $55,320 |
| Midland, TX | $43,900 | $32,250 | $49,340 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $43,590 | $35,320 | $53,830 |
| San Angelo, TX | $40,610 | $30,820 | $46,790 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $40,370 | $31,480 | $54,800 |
| Abilene, TX | $39,560 | $31,750 | $47,070 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $39,560 | $33,900 | $49,000 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $38,800 | $30,800 | $47,700 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $38,730 | $30,640 | $46,790 |
| Odessa, TX | $38,490 | $32,860 | $47,990 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Salary range for medical admin assistants in Texas
The salary range for medical admin assistants in Texas typically spans from $31,170 to $52,050 per year said the BLS.
Education plays a role in determining the salary range for medical administrative assistants in Texas, but it’s just one of several factors, which also include work experience, work location and the specific responsibilities assigned.
Employment by Texas metro area
Your earning level will likely depend upon where you live within Texas. Not surprisingly, cities tend to pay better than rural or less populated areas because large cities usually are industry and university hubs. So, if you work in the largest city in the state, which is Houston, which has several highly ranked hospitals and large universities and medical centers, pay may be more competitive. That said, here’s what the BLS reports as the highest employment numbers for the top 10 cities in the U.S. As you can see, the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro areas ranks fourth for employment, while Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land rank eighth in the U.S.
Texas salary growth and job outlook
With a national job growth rate of 4.2% through 2034, medical administrative assistants can anticipate a solid employment landscape. Texas’ medical administrative assistants have even more to look forward to, says O*Net, a subsidiary of the BLS, who said these healthcare professionals can anticipate a 21% job growth rate through 2030. The single biggest reason for the positive job growth of medical administrative assistants in Texas is the state’s rapidly growing population and increased demand for healthcare services. A larger population means more patients needing medical care, leading to increased demand for hospitals, clinics and private practices—all of which require medical administrative assistants to keep operations running smoothly.
Factors that affect medical admin assistant salaries in TX
The following factors collectively determine the earning potential for medical administrative assistants in Texas.:
- Education and certifications:
- Completing a medical administrative assistant program and earning a certificate, diploma or associate degree from a vocational school or community college may lead to higher starting salaries. Professional certifications such as Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) or Certified Medical Manager (CMM) may also boost salary potential.
- Work location:
- Salaries are often higher in large cities due to higher demand and cost of living as well as the presence of large healthcare networks. Smaller towns and rural areas generally offer lower pay, but also lower competition for jobs.
- Type of employer:
- Hospitals and large medical centers usually offer higher salaries and benefits while in a private practices or clinic pay can vary, but smaller offices might pay less. Specialized clinics may offer better pay than general medical offices.
Education for medical admin assistants
In Texas, there are multiple education pathways to become a medical administrative assistant, depending on how quickly you want to enter the workforce and whether you want to pursue higher-level certifications. Here’s a Texas-specific education pathway:
Meet the basic requirements
- Minimum education: High school diploma or GED are required
- Soft skills: Strong communication, organization and computer skills
Choose an education program
To be more competitive, most medical administrative assistants complete postsecondary training. Texas offers several options:
Certificate or diploma program (3–9 months, fastest route)
- Offered at community colleges, vocational schools and online programs
- Focuses on medical terminology, patient scheduling, billing, coding and office management
- Some well-known programs in Texas:
- Lone Star College (Houston area)
- Austin Community College
- Dallas College
- Alamo Colleges (San Antonio)
- Texas State Technical College
Associate degree in medical office administration (2 years, but may offer higher pay to start)
- Provides more in-depth training in medical administration
- Includes general education courses (English, math, communication)
- Typically required for higher-level jobs (office manager, medical billing specialist)
- Available at many Texas community colleges
Earn certifications (optional, but may boost salary or offer advancement opportunity)
While not required in Texas, employers may prefer candidates with national certifications, such as:
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA): Offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- Certified Medical Manager (CMM): Best for those wanting management roles
- Medical Billing & Coding Certifications: Useful for those working with insurance claims
Some Texas schools may include certification exam prep in their programs.
Gain experience and apply for jobs
- Consider internships or externships (some Texas schools offer them)
- Apply for jobs in hospitals, private clinics, urgent care centers and specialty offices
Find comprehensive salary guides for medical administrative assistants in select states: Arizona | California | Florida | Georgia | Indiana | Texas
Cost of living considerations
Texas is known for its affordable cost of living, especially compared to states like California and New York. However, costs vary by city, with major metropolitan areas being more expensive than rural areas. Texas is one of the more affordable states for medical administrative assistants, especially in mid-sized cities. Austin and parts of Dallas can be expensive, but salaries tend to be higher there too. Here’s a summary:
- Affordable compared to other states, but costs vary by city.
- No state income tax, which means more take-home pay.
- Housing and transportation costs are the biggest factors in affordability.
- Salaries ($40K–$50k per year) generally support a stable lifestyle, but budgeting is needed in pricier areas.
Cities with a lower cost of living:
- San Antonio
- Lubbock
Cities with a higher cost of living:
- Austin
- Dallas
State professional associations for medical admin assistants
There are several professional groups and associations that support medical administrative assistants in Texas. These organizations offer networking, job opportunities, certifications and professional development.
Texas Medical Group Management Association (TXMGMA):
TXMGMA focuses on healthcare administration, office management and professional networking. They offer conferences, job postings and continuing education.
Texas Health Information Management Association (TxHIMA):
TxHIMA supports medical records specialists, coding and billing and office administration professionals in healthcare. The group offers certifications, networking events and training programs.
The medical administrative assistant salary guide for Texas aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the salary landscape and offer important information regarding this healthcare profession. Use this guide as a starting point to make informed decisions about your education, career path and salary, and for setting realistic expectations around your educational and professional future.