Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants fall under the Office and Administrative Support category in the U.S. occupational classification. Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants earn a median salary of $44,640 per year, ranking in the top 78% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +4.2% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do medical secretaries and administrative assistants earn?

The median annual wage for medical secretaries and administrative assistants is $44,640. That puts medical secretaries and administrative assistants at #631 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is medical secretaries and administrative assistants a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for medical secretaries and administrative assistants is +4.2%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 850K positions in 2024 to 885K in 2034, a net change of 35K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.

What do medical secretaries and administrative assistants do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working medical secretaries and administrative assistants, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Maintain medical records, technical library, or correspondence files.
2. 2.Transmit correspondence or medical records by mail, e-mail, or fax.
3. 3.Operate office equipment, such as voice mail messaging systems, and use word processing, spreadsheet, or other software applications to prepare reports, invoices, financial statements, letters, case histories, or medical records.
4. 4.Perform various clerical or administrative functions, such as ordering and maintaining an inventory of supplies.
5. 5.Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
6. 6.Receive and route messages or documents, such as laboratory results, to appropriate staff.
7. 7.Perform bookkeeping duties, such as credits or collections, preparing and sending financial statements or bills, and keeping financial records.
8. 8.Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff.

Top skills for medical secretaries and administrative assistants

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become medical secretaries and administrative assistant?

Many medical secretaries and administrative assistants enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
  $74,260 median
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
  $66,140 median
• Brokerage Clerks
  $62,940 median
• Postal Service Clerks
  $61,630 median
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
  $57,770 median
• Postal Service Mail Carriers
  $57,490 median

Common questions parents ask about medical secretaries and administrative assistants