Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Overview

Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants has a national median salary of $45,930 per year, with +4.8% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

Work Values

• Relationships
• Support
• Working Conditions

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff.
• Transcribe recorded messages or practitioners' diagnoses or recommendations into patients' medical records.
• Compile and record medical charts, reports, or correspondence, using typewriter or personal computer.
• Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
• Complete insurance or other claim forms.

Work Activities

• Working with Computers
• Processing Information
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Getting Information
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Performing Administrative Activities
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Documenting/Recording Information

Detailed Work Activities

• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants:

Video Resources