How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Alaska?
Alaska pays an average hourly wage of $21.94 and an annual salary of $45,630 (as per BLS reports, March 31, 2021) to its MAs. When compared to the national average pay of $17.88 per hour and $37,190 per year, it appears that the wages for MAs in Alaska are considerably higher.
| Resource | Hourly Salary | Annual Salary | Date Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLS | $22.41 | $46,610 | March 31, 2021 |
| Indeed | $21.65 | $45,410 | January 22, 2023 |
| Salary.com | $21 | $43,259 | January 01, 2023 |
| ZipRecruiter | $21 | $43,110 | January 16, 2023 |
All in all, MAs in Alaska can expect to draw hourly wages in the range of $21 to $23 on an average. In terms of the annual pay, MA wages in the state would range from around $43,000 to $47,000 on an average.
Note: Certified medical assistant’s salary in Alaska may be distinct from these figures outlined above.
Medical Assistant Pay in Alaska at Different Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual Salary (Alaska) | Annual Salary (National) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $37,290 | $25,820 |
| 25% | $38,070 | $29,460 |
| 50% | $44,820 | $34,800 |
| 75% | $50,700 | $40,270 |
| 90% | $58,750 | $48,720 |
Source: BLS (as of March 31, 2021)
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for Alaska medical assistants was greater than the national average.
Highest Paying Cities for Medical Assistants in AK
Moving on, it can be quite helpful to gather information on the highest paying cities in Alaska when it comes to the medical assistant salary:
| City | Per Hour Salary (indeed.com) | Annual Salary (salary.com) |
|---|---|---|
| Badger, AK | $26.25 | – |
| Knik-Fairview, AK | $23.35 | – |
| Juneau, AK | $22.20 | $40,064 |
| Ketchikan, AK | $19.45 | $39,519 |
| Sitka, AK | $18.85 | $39,519 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $18.78 | $40,257 |
| Wasilla, AK | $18.77 | $39,879 |
| Anchorage, AK | $18.47 | $40,424 |
Source: indeed.com (as of January 16, 2021) and salary.com (as of December 28, 2020)
As you can observe in the table above, city-wise differences in salaries for MAs are prevalent in Alaska state. Badger records the highest wages for medical assistants at $26.25 per hour, followed by Knik-Fairview at $23.35 per hour. On the other hand, the city recording the lowest pay for MAs was Anchorage, at $18.47 per hour.
Highest Paying Metropolitan Areas for Alaska Medical Assistants
Furthermore, understanding which metropolitan areas pay the highest MA salary in Alaska is crucial to primarily aid you in your future:
| Metropolitan Area | Mean Annual Wage | 10th Percentile Wage | 50th Percentile (Median) Wage | 90th Percentile Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | $45,110 | $34,340 | $44,690 | $58,760 |
| Fairbanks, AK | $44,770 | $34,110 | $43,980 | $57,610 |
Source: BLS (as of March 31, 2020)
Thus, as presented in the data, Anchorage ranks the highest in terms of the wage allowance provided to medical assistants. The area of Fairbanks also pays considerably well with mean annual pay for its working medical assistants at $44,770.
Top Cities/Areas with Highest Employment
Moreover, the employment rates of a particular area/city are also significant to consider. Thus, not only the pay scales but always also consider which cities/areas in your state have the most jobs. In other words, hire the highest number of medical assistants.
| Metropolitan Area | Number of Employed Medical Assistants |
|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 1,830 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 230 |
Source: BLS (as of March 31, 2021)
As you can see, out of the 2 areas/cities with the highest MA employment in Alaska, the majority of the medical assistants are employed by Anchorage alone (2,000). The other area of Fairbanks stands next, with 230 MAs working and employed presently.
Top 10 Paying Employers for Medical Assistants in Alaska
Wouldn’t it be good to know which healthcare facilities and employers pay the best medical assistant pay in Alaska? Here is a list to help you plan ahead for a fruitful career in Alaska:
| Employer | Per Hour Salary |
|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | $52,086 |
| NYU Langone Health | $48,088 |
| Atrius Health | $46,822 |
| Virginia Mason | $46,492 |
| Scripps Health | $46,000 |
| Ideal Option | $43,994 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | $43,955 |
| Sutter Health | $43,027 |
| Quest Diagnostics | $41,413 |
| Franciscan Health | $40,396 |
Source: indeed.com (as of January 16, 2021)
As noted above, Kaiser Permanente provides medical assistants with the highest wages in Alaska, averaged around $52,086 per annum. It is followed by NYU Langone Health paying an average of $48,088 annual salaries to its MA employees. The third-highest paying facility for medical assistants in AK is Atrius Health, with average wages rendered equaling $46,822.
Benefits for Alaska Medical Assistants other than Salaries
Additionally, several benefits entail the role of a medical assistant in Alaska, over and above the core, base pay they receive. Considering these positives is essential to gauge the overall prospects of becoming an MA in the state. These add-on advantages include:
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Healthcare Perks
One of the most significant additional benefits that MAs in AK get is those of healthcare-related perks. These include health and dental insurances, amongst other things. These form a large bulk of your total payout as an MA in the state. These perks for MAs are worth $6,371 on average, i.e., up to 10.7% of the total compensation figure they receive in AK.
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Time Off
Compensatory offs, free time to relax and rejuvenate post the strenuous working conditions (paid holidays) are included in the ‘time off’ perks MAs in Alaska are entitled to. You may use this time to go on vacations or spend some valuable time with your family. Time off perks amounts to $5,177 on average, i.e., around 8.7% of your total compensation figure.
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Social Security
Social security perks are also extended to Alaska’s medical assistant professionals ($3,120, i.e., 5.2% of the total compensation figure). Include these perks while ascertaining your medical assistant salary in Alaska.
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401K/403B
These are retirement plans rendered according to the type of facility you’re working for. Depending on whether you’re employed at a for-profit or not-for-profit center, either the 401K or 403B perks will be rendered. For MAs in Alaska, the 401K/403B benefits amount to $1,999, i.e., 3.3% of the total compensation figure.
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Pension
Pension allowances are irreplaceable when it comes to add-on perks. In Alaska, MAs can expect to receive pensions worth $1,713 (2.9% of the compensation figure).
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Disability
Further, even care for disabilities is noted, and hence, requirement benefits are offered for the same to qualifying MAs ($653, i.e., 1.1% of the total compensation).
Therefore, when these perks are calculated in addition to the MA base salary ($40,744, i.e., 68.1% of the total compensation) and the bonus ($42, i.e., 0.1%), the total payout received by medical assistants in Alaska comes to $59,818 on an average.
(Source: salary.com as of December 28, 2020)
Salaries of Similar Professions in Alaska
| Related Professions | Average Hourly Salary |
|---|---|
| Clinical Assistant | $19.32 |
| Certified Medical Assistant | $19.10 |
| Medical Office Assistant | $17.11 |
| Medical Receptionist | $16.63 |
| Medical Scribe | $16.04 |
| Dermatology Assistant | $25.72 |
Source: indeed.com (as of January 16, 2021)
With an average hourly salary of $21.94, the pay MAs achieve in Alaska is higher than those employed in these other professions, except that of a Dermatology Assistant. However, if you choose to change your stream of work, you may pick from these alternative routes.
| Related Professions | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Scribe | $39,148 |
| Medical Secretary | $46,701 |
| Medical Billing Specialist | $47,116 |
| Medical Librarian Assistant | $42,566 |
| Physician Assistant- Medical | $121,951 |
| Physician Assistant- Specialty | $132,437 |
Source: salary.com (as of December 28, 2020)
Stated above are a few more jobs that are quite similar to that of a medical assistant. As you may observe here, Physician Assistants in the Specialty domain earn quite handsomely (more than double as much as MAs). Thus, you could take this path as a route to grow in your career down the line. In fact, most of these other professions are significant next steps or alternate streams for medical assistants at large.
Projected Employment and Hiring Trends for AK Medical Assistants (2018-2028)
Job Outlook
For MAs in the state, the future predicts considerable job opportunities with substantial demand for healthcare services. One important factor to note here is that of medical assistant certification in Alaska. Getting certified is highly encouraged for MAs in the state. Research on how much certified medical assistants make in Alaska to better understand the benefits of pursuing certification. A CMA or RMA credential not only enhances the pool of medical assistant jobs in Alaska but across the nation.
| Estimated Employment and Projected Growth (Medical Assistants) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Projected Area | Base Year Employment
(2018) |
Projected Employment
(2028) |
Numeric Change | Percentage Change | Annual Job Openings |
|
Alaska |
1,740 | 1,890 | 150 | +8.6% | 220 |
Source: Projections Central (2018-2028 report)
From 1,740 in 2018 to 1,890 in 2028, 8.6% growth is estimated by Projection Central for Alaska medical assistants. There will be 220 new jobs every year as per the prediction, indicating a prospective future for the state MAs.
Hiring Trends
- According to Alaska’s Economic Trends’ report, “Industry and Occupation Projections”, the healthcare sector drives job growth from 2016 to 2026. Out of the estimated overall employment growth of 5.1% in this period (+17,000 jobs), a significant 59.6% is predicted to arise from healthcare sectors and establishments. Healthcare and social assistance positions will grow by 21.4% from 2016 to 2026, opening around 10,100 more jobs with 5,026 positions coming from ambulatory service providers and 3,241 from hospitals.
- On Zippia.com’s list of the ‘10 fastest-growing jobs in Alaska’, Medical Assisting has ranked second with a growth rate of a whopping 119.4% and 1,540 jobs by 2024. The sheer magnitude of this statistic makes one realize the importance that these assistants are now occupying in the healthcare space in AK.
- In Careeronstop’s extensive list of the fastest-growing careers in Alaska, 442 ‘growing’ professions were occupied in the state. Even in this data, Medical Assisting as a profession ranked #32 among the top 50 careers in the state. From an employment value of 1,670 in 2016, 23% growth is estimated, with 2,060 MAs employed in AK by 2026.
- According to the statistics outlined by USA Wage’s 2019 survey, medical assistants rank in the 25th position of the top 200 popular Alaska jobs. A total of 2,740 MAs are employed, constituting 0.86% of the total employment in AK.
- According to Zippia, the top 5 healthcare companies to work for in Alaska are Yukon-Kuskokwim Health, Southcentral Foundation, Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery & Eagle Centre, Central Peninsula General Hospital, and Denali Family Services.
Written by : Casey Gardner
Casey Gardner is both a healthcare support professional and an accomplished content creator. She has been working as a certified health care professional with marketable skills as a physician assistant, and a qualified medical assistant for last two decades. She has dedicated her nursing career to produce over hundreds of content pieces since 2001, and her work has been published both online as well as offline.
