AAMA 2019 CMA (AAMA)® Compensation and Benefits Report 1 of 5
Medical assistants and medical assist-
ing educators across the country enthu-
siastically participated in the 2019
Compensation and Benefits Survey con-
ducted by the American Association of
Medical Assistants® (AAMA). Nearly 8,000
medical assistants completed the survey.
Employee pay rate and status Both hourly pay rates and annual gross salaries
were collected on the survey. Approximately
98% of full-time medical assistants are paid
hourly, while roughly 2% are paid by annual
salary. Of the 6,187 respondents who are prac-
ticing medical assistants, approximately 91%
work full time while 9% work part time. For
the purposes of this report, results represent
compensation and benefits for the full-time
employee population.
CompensationOverall, of those surveyed, full-time medical
assistants holding a current CMA (AAMA)
credential earn an average of $17.74 per
hour or an average annual salary of $33,570.
Average hourly wages and salary varied for
CMAs (AAMA) according to years of expe-
rience and other factors, which are broken
down as follows.
By geographic regionThe 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 $40,085 annually and
$21.21 hourly. Across the country, the
New England region turned in the second-
highest annual earnings ($35,430), while
West North Central region had the second-
highest hourly wages ($18.92). The full
comparison is shown in Table 1.
2019 CMA (AAMA)® Compensation and Benefits Report
Employers are increasingly demanding that their medical
assistants have a CMA (AAMA)® credential.1 Every day the AAMA responds to more than 100 employer requests for CMA (AAMA) certification verification—for both current and potential employees.2 Such demand is often due to the pressures of potential malpractice suits and the certification mandates placed on employers by managed care organizations.3
Additionally, the Medicaid Promoting Interoperability (PI) Program requires that only cre-dentialed medical assistants, such as CMAs (AAMA), and licensed health care professionals are per-mitted to enter medication, labora-tory, and diagnostic imaging orders into the computerized provider order entry (CPOE) system for meaningful use calculation pur-poses.4 The CMA (AAMA) must have current status to use the cre-dential, including for qualifying to enter orders for meaningful use for the Medicaid PI Program.
The AAMA emailed an electronic ques-
tionnaire to more than 26,000 members and
announced the survey via AAMA e-Update
(94,000+ subscribers) and the AAMA
Facebook page (45,000+ followers). The
majority of respondents (84%) were medical
assistants, while 4% identified themselves as
medical assisting educators. Approximately 3%
of respondents identified themselves as medical
practice managers, while about 2% identified
as both medical assistants and medical assisting
educators. Most of the participants had earned
the CMA (AAMA) credential (94%) and were
members of the AAMA (99%).
Statistical significance and terms usedThe large number of participants ensures
that the results have a high degree of statisti-
cal significance. The overall margin of error
for the 7,921 responses is ±1.1% at the 95%
confidence level. Margin of error describes
the statistical significance of the sample as an
estimate of the population. The margin of
error should be treated only as an approxi-
mation, since margin of error calculations
are based on pure random selection, which is
not achievable in traditional survey settings
where response is voluntary. The ±1.1%
margin of error applies to overall statis-
tics based on the total respondents to the
survey; smaller breakout 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.
*Insufficient response
AAMA 2019 CMA (AAMA)® Compensation and Benefits Report 2 of 5
NewEngland
South
Central
West SouthCentral
West NorthCentral
MountaininMMountaai
Paci�c(Includes Alaska
and Hawaii)
Figure 1. Regions based on the United States Census divisions
CMA (AAMA) overall
average earnings
Hourly: $17.74
Salary: $33,570
0–2 years 3–5 years 6–9 years 10–15 years 16 years+ Overall
New England16.23
30,660
17.69
34,036
18.46
35,531
20.20
37,179
20.88
41,314
18.54
35,430
Middle Atlantic15.52
30,531
16.19
31,800
17.99
35,586
18.72
36,700
20.43
39,632
17.66
34,685
East North Central15.26
28,521
16.23
30,540
16.91
31,588
17.96
34,004
19.53
36,819
17.07
32,013
West North Central16.35
30,115
17.78
31,996
18.50
33,701
19.74
36,365
21.16
39,565
18.92
34,835
South Atlantic14.54
27,497
15.85
29,976
16.78
32,896
17.37
33,097
18.91
36,862
16.63
31,838
East South Central14.05
25,864
15.17
30,000
*
*
16.71
30,707
18.21
35,093
15.98
30,580
West South Central*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
40,225
16.35
31,854
Mountain15.19
29,672
16.28
30,883
17.68
33,510
18.87
37,189
20.11
38,508
17.67
34,027
Pacific18.64
33,265
20.62
39,366
21.40
40,512
23.43
45,180
23.77
46,685
21.21
40,085
Midwest
Northeast
South
West
Table 1. Geographic region Average full-time CMA (AAMA) pay by years of experience
$ $ $ $ $ $
Note: Data presented in this report represent current-dollar values (i.e., dollar amounts are not adjusted for cost of living by region). To learn more about constant-dollar values in your region, search online to view cost-of-living adjustments for individual locations.
AAMA 2019 CMA (AAMA)® Compensation and Benefits Report 3 of 5
CMA (AAMA) overall
average earnings
Hourly: $17.74
Salary: $33,570
By work settingThe overwhelming majority of medical assis-tants surveyed work in physicians’ offices. Nearly 95% of medical assistant respondents are employed in that setting, with roughly 1% in ambulatory surgery and another 2% in “other.” Another 1% of respondents work in inpatient settings. The breakdown of wages and earnings by work setting is shown in Table 2. Figures for home health settings are not listed due to insufficient response numbers.
By practice specialtyNearly 62% of medical assistant respondents work in a primary care practice. Another 32% work in practices with other medical and surgical specialties. The income figures for practice specialty are shown in Table 3.
By number of specialtiesAlmost 52% of medical assistant respondents work in a single-specialty practice, while 46% work in a multispecialty setting. The income figures for full-time current CMAs (AAMA) by number of specialties are listed in Table 4.
Work setting 0–2 years 3–5 years 6–9 years 10–15 years 16 years+ Overall
Physician practice15.67
29,256
16.88
31,852
17.73
33,590
18.80
35,649
20.03
38,364
17.73
33,510
Ambulatory surgery*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
18.13
35,336
Inpatient setting*
*
17.34
34,250
*
*
*
*
*
*
17.65
35,072
Other *
*
17.12
32,093
17.73
32,060
*
*
20.61
40,560
18.41
35,235
Table 2. Work setting Average full-time CMA (AAMA) pay by years of experience
$ $ $ $ $ $
Practice specialty 0–2 years 3–5 years 6–9 years 10–15 years 16 years+ Overall
Primary care15.60
29,108
16.67
31,174
17.60
33,154
18.72
35,511
20.04
38,035
17.58
33,027
All other medical and surgical specialties
15.81
29,676
17.22
33,187
18.07
34,631
19.17
36,438
20.34
39,826
18.11
34,782
Other 15.58
29,381
17.20
32,595
17.88
33,699
18.99
36,080
19.64
37,310
17.71
33,467
Table 3. Practice specialty Average full-time CMA (AAMA) pay by years of experience
$ $ $ $ $ $
Number of specialties 0–2 years 3–5 years 6–9 years 10–15 years 16 years+ Overall
Single specialty15.51
29,045
16.74
31,679
17.79
33,835
18.78
35,909
19.84
38,226
17.63
33,561
Multiple specialties15.89
29,890
17.08
32,392
17.85
33,789
19.25
36,567
20.29
38,855
17.99
34,064
Other15.47
27,440
17.00
31,360
*
*
*
*
22.14
41,909
17.78
32,342
Table 4. Number of specialties Average full-time CMA (AAMA) pay by years of experience
$ $ $ $ $ $
*Insufficient response
AAMA 2019 CMA (AAMA)® Compensation and Benefits Report 4 of 5
Benefits received by full-time medical assistants
4%
Receive benefits96%
Number of responses = 5,591
Results rounded to the nearest whole number
Figure 2.
Do not receive benefits
Employment benefitsRoughly 96% of all full-time medical assis-
tants receive some form of benefits package
from their employer.
InsuranceA little more than 84% of full-time
medical assistants receive paid vacation.
Approximately 82% receive dental coverage,
while 75% receive major medical cover-
age. Just over 76% receive vision coverage,
and 62% receive disability coverage. The
full range of benefits for full-time medical
assistants is shown in Figure 3.
AAMA membership and conferenceWhen asked if employers offer to help pay
for various AAMA expenses, nearly 16% of
full-time medical assistants who are AAMA
members responded that their employers
pay their membership dues in full (Figure
4). In addition, approximately 8% have their
annual conference registration fees paid for
in full, and nearly 4% have travel and lodg-
ing paid by their employers. ✦
The American Association of Medical
Assistants thanks all the participants who
made this survey possible.
References1. Balasa DA, Johnson A. CMA (AAMA) certifica-
tion: Why it is the premier credential. CMA Today. 2015;48(6):6-7. http://aama-ntl.org/cma-today /archives/article?id=55d2d64a-4840-6a90 -a81c-ff00003b2c18#.WdOfFFtSxhH. Published November 2015. Accessed October 7, 2019.
2. What is a CMA (AAMA)®? American Association of Medical Assistants. http://www.aama-ntl.org /medical-assisting/what-is-a-cma. Accessed October 7, 2019.
3. Balasa DA. Why more employers are hiring CMAs (AAMA). CMA Today. 2013;46(5):6-7. http://www .aama-ntl.org/cma-today/archives /article?id=b286d24a-4840-6a90-a81c -ff00003b2c18. Published January 2007. Updated September 2013. Accessed October 7, 2019.
4. Balasa DA. Medical assisting credential requirement maintained under Medicaid PI Program. AAMA e-Learning Center. https://learning.aama-ntl.org /Public/Catalog/Details.aspx?id=w2Mr3%2b2XG46eSXYU3uEMNA%3d%3d&returnurl=%2fUsers%2fUserOnlineCourse.aspx%3fLearningActivityID%3dw2Mr3%252b2XG46eSXYU3uEMNA%253d%253d. Published September 2019. Accessed October 7, 2019.
Figure 4. Dues assistance received by full-time medical assistant AAMA members
Number of responses = 5,507
Results rounded to the nearest whole number
Full paymentPartial payment
AAMA membership dues
CMA (AAMA) certification/recertification fees
Continuing education fees
AAMA Annual Conference registration fees
Travel and lodging expenses to the AAMA Annual Conference
17%5%
16%3%
14%13%
8%4%
4%3%
Number of responses = 5,591
Results rounded to the nearest whole number
Insurance benefits received by full-time medical assistantsFigure 3.
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
0
20
40
60
80
100
75%
62%
40%
51%
40%
23%5%4%
84%82%
76%
61%
Paid vacation
Dental
Vision
Major medical
Disability
Accidental death
Discount prescription
Basic hospitalizationProfessional liability
OtherNone
Sick leave
Full paymentPartial payment
AAMA membership dues
CMA (AAMA) certification/recertification fees
Continuing education fees
AAMA Annual Conference registration fees
Travel and lodging expenses to the AAMA Annual Conference
17%5%
16%3%
14%13%
8%4%
4%3%
2019 Medical Assisting Educator Compensation
and Benefits Report
Figure 5. Insurance benefits received by full-time educators Figure 6. Dues assistance received by full-time educators
Number of responses = 231
Results rounded to the nearest whole numberNumber of responses = 231
Results rounded to the nearest whole number
Table 5. Average full-time educator pay by years of experience
Number of responses = 231
Overall
3–5 years
16+ years 59,476
10–15 years 55,130
6–9 years 53,897
60,405
0–2 years 59,964
$58,104
Of survey respondents who identified primarily as medical assisting educators, about 87% of medical assisting educators surveyed work full time, with the other 13% teaching part time. The majority (88%) of full-time educators receive their compensation in the form of an annual salary, while around 12% are paid hourly.
CompensationOn average, full-time medical assisting educators reported earning an annual gross salary of $58,104, with about 35% reporting that they earn at least $65,000 annually and 18% reporting more than $75,000 in annual earnings. The breakdown of educators’ salaries by years of experience is shown in Table 5.
Employment benefits
InsuranceMore than 84% of full-time educators receive major medical coverage and 84% receive dental insurance. Discount prescription coverage, accidental death, disability, and vision were over 50% rates. Rates of coverage for full-time educators are listed in Figure 5.
AAMA membership and conferenceWhen asked if employers offer to help pay for various AAMA expenses, 46% of full-time educators who are AAMA members reported full payment of membership dues, with 61% reporting full payment of conference registration fees. Roughly 55% reported full payment of travel and lodging for conference (Figure 6).
AAMA 2019 CMA (AAMA)® Compensation and Benefits Report 5 of 5
Full paymentPartial payment
AAMA membership dues1%
AAMA Annual Conference registration fees
61%
12%
Travel and lodging expenses to the AAMA Annual Conference
55%
16%
CMA (AAMA) certification/ recertification fees
34%
3%
Continuing education fees
36%
23%
46%
Paid vacation 71%
Sick leave 80%
Major medical 84%
Vision 77%
Dental 84%
Disability 67%
Discount prescription 51%
Accidental death 55%
Basic hospitalization 43%
Professional liability 19%
Other 10%
None 4%