How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Florida?
If you have an interest in healthcare and you live in Florida, you must’ve wondered how much do medical assistants make in Florida. According to BLS, as of March 31, 2021, medical assistants or MA salary in Florida was $35,480 annually and $17.06 hourly. This income is just short of the national average for medical assistants that stands at $38,190 annually and $18.36 hourly.
| Resource | Hourly Salary | Annual Salary | Date Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLS | $17.06 | $35,480 | March 31, 2022 |
| Indeed | $16.53 | $38,492 | October 19, 2022 |
| Salary.com | $18.00 | $36,413 | September 25, 2022 |
| PayScale | $15.47 | $54,000 | October 23, 2022 |
| ZipRecruiter | $15.89 | $33,051 | October 21, 2022 |
The above table shows annual and hourly salaries for medical assistants (certified & non-certified) in Florida for 2022. If you want to know how much do certified medical assistants make in Florida, it is usually a little more in terms of salary, but a lot more in terms of getting a job, progressing in the career, and working for top employers.
Average Medical Assistant Salaries in Florida
Medical Assistant salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including certifications, administrative skills, education, experience, and much more. The average medical assisting Median salary in FL is $36,700 as of March 31, 2022, but the range typically falls between $29,670 and $37,860.
According to indeed.com, the average salary for a medical assistant is $16.54 per hour in Florida, which falls around the national average as of March 18, 2022. On the other hand, as per the BLS, the mean hourly and annual salary of a medical assistant (as of March 2022) was $17.06 and $35,480, respectively.
| Percentile | Annual Salary (Florida) | Annual Salary (National) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $28,910 | $29,070 |
| 25% | $29,670 | $30,200 |
| 50% | $36,700 | $37,190 |
| 75% | $37,860 | $43,490 |
| 90% | $46,240 | $48,170 |
Source: BLS (as of March 2022)
The above table shows that the annual salary of MA in Florida was slightly lower than the national average wage at 10th percentile and less mostly, at rest of the percentiles.
Highest Paying Cities for Medical Assistants in FL
The table below shows the top 8 cities in Florida paying the highest salaries to medical assistants:
| City | Per Hour Salary (indeed.com) | Per Hour Salary (salary.com) |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Myers | $17.54 | $18 |
| Saint Petersburg | $17.15 | $18 |
| Miami | $17.10 | $18 |
| Tampa | $16.70 | $18 |
| Jacksonville | $16.68 | $18 |
| Orlando | $16.32 | $18 |
| Melbourne | $15.70 | $17 |
| Pensacola | $15.60 | $17 |
Source: indeed.com (as of October 19, 2022) and salary.com (as of September 29, 2022)
Indeed.com reported that the highest paying city for medical assistants in Florida was Fort Myers, which paid $17.54 hour. Other top-paying cities include Jacksonville, Saint Petersburg, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Melbourne, & Pensacola. The salaries paid by these cities varied from $17.15 – $15.60 according to indeed.com and between $17 – $18 according to salary.com.
Highest Paying Metropolitan Areas for Florida Medical Assistants
| Metropolitan Area | Mean Annual Wage | 10th Percentile Wage | 50th Percentile (Median) Wage | 90th Percentile Wage | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | $38,580 | $30,630 | $37,490 | $47,440 | |||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $37,950 | $29,420 | $37,380 | $47,860 | |||
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | $37,870 | $30,110 | $37,180 | $46,960 | |||
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $36,910 | $29,920 | $37,410 | $47,470 | |||
| Jacksonville, FL | $35,440 | $29,340 | $36,940 | $45,850 | |||
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $34,900 | $28,820 | $36,520 | $45,250 | |||
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | $34,810 | $23,920 | $36,590 | $45,850 | |||
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $34,790 | $28,790 | $36,790 | $45,520 | |||
| Punta Gorda, FL | $34,420 | $28,470 | $35,910 | $43,720 | |||
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $33,910 | $28,830 | $30,340 | $40,010 | |||
| Panama City, FL | $33,890 | $28,650 | $35,260 | $38,170 | |||
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $33,890 | $28,590 | $35,230 | $38,160 | |||
| Gainesville, FL | $33,870 | $28,120 |
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| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $33,640 | $28,680 | $30,710 |
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| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL |
|
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$30,480 |
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| Ocala, FL | $33,330 |
|
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$37,930 | |||
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $33,240 |
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$29,920 | $38,010 | |||
| Tallahassee, FL | $32,980 |
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$33,320 | $38,130 | |||
| Homosassa Springs, FL | $32,980 | $27,110 | $33,590 |
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| The Villages, FL | $32,760 | $28,280 |
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$38,040 | |||
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $32,410 | $27,290 | $30,020 | $42,410 | |||
| Sebring, FL | $31,520 | $26,510 | $29,870 | $38,100 |
Source: BLS (as of March 31, 2022)
When it comes to medical assistant pay in Florida, Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island was the metropolitan area that paid the highest mean annual wage at $38,580 per year. The other metro areas paid their medical assistants from $31,520 to $37,950 in annual salaries.
Top 10 Cities/Areas with Highest Employment
According to BLS, as of March 31, 2022, Florida had the third-highest number of medical assistants employed in the state at 57,410, followed by Texas at second and California at first.
| Area | Number of Employed Medical Assistants |
|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 15,530 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 10,340 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 7,820 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 4,690 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 2,430 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 2,290 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 1,630 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 1,520 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 1,420 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 1,190 |
| Gainesville, FL | 1,110 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 1,090 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 1,010 |
| Ocala, FL | 980 |
| Panama City, FL | 620 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 580 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 510 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 470 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 380 |
| The Villages, FL | 310 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 290 |
| Sebring, FL | 260 |
Source: BLS (as of March 31, 2022)
It is also notable that Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach employs 15,530 medical assistant professionals, which is highest in the state and seventh-highest in the country.
Top 10 Paying Employers for Medical Assistants in Florida
A medical assistant can be employed in various institutions, including clinics, hospitals, physicians’ offices, residential care facilities, and many more. The table below will give you an idea of the highest paying employers for medical assistants in Florida.
| Employer | Per Hour Salary |
|---|---|
| Sutter Health | $27.87 |
| Mayo Clinic | $27.80 |
| QCI Healthcare | $27.20 |
| Kaiser Permanente | $23.60 |
| Swedish Medical Group | $23.10 |
| Entira Family Clinics | $22.30 |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | $22.20 |
| Cocentra | $21.26 |
| Pulse4pulse | $20.87 |
| Dignity Health | $20.15 |
Source: indeed.com (as of October 30, 2022)
Sutter Health, like many other states, is the highest paying employer for medical assistants in Florida, according to indeed.com.
Benefits for Florida Medical Assistants other than Salaries
According to salary.com, a medical assistant can get a decent salary and many other perks working in the healthcare industry. These benefits vary from employer to employer, so we have listed the perks offered by most employers first.
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Flexibility
When you work as a medical assistant in Florida or any other state, there will be flexible work hours depending upon your employer. Healthcare is an industry that works around the clock, and flexible working hours can help you plan your schedule better.
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Healthcare Dental Insurance
You are bound to get the perks of the industry you work in. Many employers provide their employees with healthcare and dental insurance plans, which can help you save big on those insurance premiums, which is about $6,371 per year. It is about 11.8% of the total compensation.
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Paid Time Off
Another big part of working in a fast-paced environment where you always have to be on your toes is getting paid time off, subject to the employer’s policies. The monetary value of this time off is about $4,627 (8.5% of total compensation).
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401K/403B
Your employer will help contribute to this retirement program for your future beyond working. The monetary value of this benefit is $1,786, which is 3.3% of the total compensation.
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Pension
Pension is accumulated to help you stay on your feet even after retirement, and for medical assistants in Florida, employers contribute around $1,531 per year, which is 2.8% of the total compensation.
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Social Security
Your employer contributes towards your social security payments too, and the amount comes to $$2,789, which is 5.1% of the total compensation.
Salaries of Similar Professions in Florida
| Related Professions | Average Hourly Salary |
|---|---|
| Clinical Assistant | $16.72 |
| Back Office Medical Assistant | $16.41 |
| Medical Office Assistant | $15.61 |
| Medical Receptionist | $15.12 |
| Medical Scribe | $13.97 |
Source: indeed.com (as of October 31, 2022)
There are many similar professions like medical assistants in Florida that you can look into if you’re considering entering the field of healthcare. The Clinical Medical Assistant salary in Florida is the highest in related professions at $16.72/hour. It is followed by Back Office Medical Assistant, Medical Office Assistant, Medical Receptionist, and Medical Scribe, who earn between $16.41 to $13.97 per hour.
| Related Professions | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Associate Medical Director | $269,010 |
| Medical Billing Specialist | $41,986 |
| Medical Librarian Assistant | $37,889 |
| Medical Secretary | $40,864 |
| Physician Assistant- Medical | $108,800 |
| Physician Assistant – Specialty | $117,606 |
Source: salary.com (as of September 30, 2022)
According to salary.com, above are the professions related to medical assistants in Florida. These professions paid between $37,889 and $269,010.
Hiring Trends and Employment Projections for FL Medical Assistants (2020-2030)
Job Outlook
Becoming a medical assistant in Florida requires a high school diploma as a minimum, but it is advised to get a certification. The scope of practice for a medical assistant in Florida is higher for certified and registered professionals. It will help you earn higher and receive promotions quicker to reach an important position in the organization. The state of Florida recognizes the following two certifications for medical assistants.
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
- Registered Medical Assistant by the American Medical Technologists (AMT)
Florida is the state with the second-highest senior citizens’ population, which means the demand for healthcare is ever-increasing in this state. It is an excellent time to get into healthcare as a medical assistant in Florida because various opportunities are rising rapidly. It is estimated that there will be about 71,710 medical assistant jobs in Florida by the year 2026.
| Estimated Employment and Projected Growth (Medical Assistants) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Projected Area | Base Year Employment
(2020) |
Projected Employment
(2030) |
Numeric Change | Percentage Change | Annual Job Openings |
| Florida | 57,100 | 74,140 | 17,040 | +29.8% | 9,300 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor-Sponsored Resource, Projections Central (2020-2030 report)
Seeing the table above it is evident that the prospects for Florida MAs are bright in the future, as the study by Projection Central predicts job growth of about 30% between 2020-2030. There will be 9300 new job vacancies for medical assistants in the state for the said decade.
Hiring Trends
- According to Labor Market Info, the medical assistant is the sixth fastest-growing job in Florida (with employment growth of 25.5%), and it stands ninth on the list of occupations gaining new jobs for the years 2020-2030.
- Similarly, as per Florida’s Regional Demand Occupation List, the Medical Assistant occupation stands at the third position in the state with an annual growth rate of 3.60%.
- According to a recent analysis by Zippia, Medical Assistant ranks at 31st position among the top 100 fastest-growing jobs in Florida. The report has predicted 60,420 new jobs by 2024, and potential job growth of 133.2%.
- Another 10-year projection (2016-2026) has ranked ‘Medical Assistants’ at number 10, among the fastest-growing careers in the state, with a growth rate of 38%. With a number of 52,110 medical assistants employed in Florida (by 2016), the occupation stands among the top 40 largest employing careers in the state. Also, with 8,480 new job vacancies in the next 10 years, the occupation of MA stands at 33rd position in the list of top careers with most job openings.
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.
