How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Maine?
Medical assistants in Maine are very well-paid, as demonstrated by their hourly and annual salary estimated at $17.57 per hour by BLS and $17.73 by indeed.com, which is 14% higher than the national average hourly salary. Here’s a detailed insight into the MA salaries:
| Resource | Hourly Salary | Annual Salary | Date Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLS | $17.57 | $36,540 | March 31, 2020 |
| Indeed | $17.73 | $41,273 | January 29, 2021 |
| Salary.com | $17 | $35,037 | December 28, 2020 |
| ZipRecruiter | $16 | $32,859 | November 29, 2020 |
The annual MA salary in Maine ranges between $32,859 and $41,346.
Medical Assistant Pay at Different Percentiles in the State
| Percentile | Annual Salary (Montana) | Annual Salary (National) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $28,560 | $25,820 |
| 25% | $32,160 | $29,460 |
| 50% | $36,240 | $34,800 |
| 75% | $40,560 | $40,270 |
| 90% | $46,950 | $48,720 |
Source: BLS (as of March 31, 2020)
The annual salary of medical assistants in Maine is higher than the national average at 10th, 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles. It is only lower than the national average at the 90th percentile.
Highest Paying Cities for Medical Assistants in ME
Though MAs have an average hourly salary determined by various reliable portals like BLS, different MAs receive different salaries based on their experience, certificate, and demographic details. Without venturing into the reasons in detail, here are the highest paying cities to medical assistants in Maine:
| City | Per Hour Salary (salary.com) | Per Hour Salary (indeed.com) |
|---|---|---|
| Scarborough, ME | $17 | $18.80 |
| Brunswick, ME | $17 | $18.75 |
| Biddeford, ME | $17 | $18.71 |
| Portland, ME | $17 | $18.22 |
| South Portland, ME | $17 | $17.62 |
| Waterville, ME | $16 | $17.25 |
| Bangor, ME | $16 | $16.71 |
| Auburn, ME | $17 | $16.52 |
| Machias, ME | $16 | $16.15 |
| Lewiston, ME | $17 | $15.79 |
Source: salary.com (as of December 28, 2020) and indeed.com (as of January 22, 2021)
The top 3 highest paying cities for medical assistants in Maine are Scarborough, Brunswick, and Biddeford, as per reports from indeed.com. Even as per salary.com data, the same cities retain their highest salary positions in the state.
Highest Paying Metropolitan Areas for Maine Medical Assistants
Like the salaries of medical assistants in the cities, the salaries of medical assistants in the metropolitan areas also differ due to several internal and external factors in place. The highest-paying metropolitan areas in Maine include the following:
| Metropolitan Area | Mean Annual Wage | 10th Percentile Wage | 50th Percentile (Median) Wage | 90th Percentile Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $40,640 | $32,780 | $40,320 | $50,350 |
| Bangor, ME | $34,620 | $27,580 | $34,780 | $41,960 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $33,230 | $27,330 | $32,710 | $40,500 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | $36,790 | $30,130 | $36,760 | $46,260 |
| Dover-Durham, NH-ME | $38,460 | $29,570 | $38,350 | $48,870 |
Source: BLS (as of March 31, 2020)
Portland-South Portland, ME is the highest paying metropolitan area in Maine, having a record mean annual wage of $40,640 and a 90th percentile wage of $50,350. It is closely followed by Dover-Durham, NH-ME, with a $38,460 mean annual wage and $48,870 90th percentile salary. Bangor, ME is the lowest paying metropolitan area in the list of the top payers in the state, with a $34,620 mean annual pay and $41,960 90th percentile salary.
Top 5 Cities/Areas with Highest Employment
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (as of March 31, 2020), the total number of medical assistants employed in Maine was 4,340 with a 1.46 location quotient. The rate of employment per 1,000 jobs is 7.10. The division of the number of employed MAs in the state with the metro areas who are notable for recruiting the highest number of MAs is given below:
| Metropolitan Area | Number of Employed Medical Assistants |
|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,340 |
| Bangor, ME | 730 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 470 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | 430 |
| Dover-Durham, NH-ME | 260 |
Source: BLS (as of March 31, 2020)
Portland-South Portland is the highest recruiter when it comes to the metropolitan area employing the greatest number of medical assistants in Maine. The second and third positions are occupied by Bangor and Lewiston-Auburn.
Top 10 Paying Employers for Medical Assistants in Maine
The mean base salary for MAs in Maine might be $17.76, but numerous employers pay their medical assistants handsomely. So, how much certified medical assistants make in Maine? To give you an idea, here’s a look at the top 10 highest paying employers for medical assistants in ME:
| Employer | Per Hour Salary |
|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | $23.56 |
| NYU Langone Health | $20.69 |
| Virginia Mason | $19.95 |
| Scripps Health | $19.76 |
| Atrius Health | $19.54 |
| ProSearch | $19.43 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | $17.79 |
| Sutter Health | $17.47 |
| Franciscan Health | $17.35 |
| Premise Health | $17.27 |
Source: indeed (as of January 29, 2021)
Kaiser Permanente is the highest paying employer of Maine, and NYU Langone Health is the second highest. The rest of the employers paid between $17 to $20 per hour.
Benefits for Maine Medical Assistants other than Salaries
A medical assistant in ME enjoys an average base salary of $35,037, which makes up 67% of the total compensation. They are also entitled to a bonus of $36, which makes up for another 0.1% of their compensation value. However, besides their base salary and bonus, they are entitled to receive many additional perks of $17,259 for general well-being, making their total compensation reach $52,332.
-
Healthcare
$6,371 is provided to Maine medical assistants besides their core compensation, which amounts to 12.2% of the total compensation value.
-
Time Off
A total of 8.5% of the compensation value is reserved for paid leaves, which is $4,452.
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Social Security
$2,683 is reserved for social security benefits and the like, and it makes up for 5.1% of the total compensation value.
-
401K/403B
An additional sum of $1,719 is reserved for their life after retirement, and out of the total compensation value, this is 3.3%.
-
Pension
To ensure well-being post retirement, 2.8% of the total remuneration is reserved for pension plans, and $1,473 is provided yearly.
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Disability
1.1% is kept towards disability insurance for MAs in the state, which is $561 when translated to monetary terms in a year.
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Flexible Work Hours
Medical assistants in Maine also receive the benefit of flexible work hours and do not have to work on night shifts or beyond their hours.
(Source: salary.com as of December 28, 2020)
Salaries of Similar Professions in Maine
The salaries of similar professions in Maine provide you a clearer insight into the role of a medical assistant and other related allied health professionals in the field.
| Related Professions | Average Hourly Salary |
|---|---|
| Dermatology Assistant | $23.80 |
| Certified Medical Assistant | $17.61 |
| Medical Office Assistant | $16.81 |
| Medical Scribe | $15.58 |
| Clinical Assistant | $15.36 |
| Medical Receptionist | $15.22 |
Source: indeed (as of January 29, 2021)
Dermatology Assistant receives the highest hourly salary of $23.80 out of all other similar professions, whereas a Medical Receptionist receives a $15.22 average hourly salary, which is not only the lowest but also considerably lower than that of an MA in ME.
| Related Professions | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant- Specialty | $113,889 |
| Physician Assistant- Medical | $104,871 |
| Medical Billing Specialist | $40,517 |
| Medical Secretary | $40,161 |
| Medical Librarian Assistant | $36,604 |
| Medical Scribe | $33,665 |
Source: salary.com (as of December 28, 2020)
The salary of Physician Assistant- Specialty is higher than all other related professions and a point for consideration if you want alternatives. The lowest annual salary is drawn by Medical Scribes and Medical Librarian Assistants, which is lower than how much medical assistants make in ME.
Projected Employment and Hiring Trends for ME Medical Assistants (2018-2028)
Job Outlook
Though Maine does not require its medical assistants to have national certification or formal training, it is recommended that MA aspirants invest time and effort in procuring these because the competition in this allied healthcare field is high. Having formal training from a CAAHEP or ABHES sponsored school and attaining medical assistant certification in Maine act as proof of your skills on a nationally acceptable level.
| Estimated Employment and Projected Growth (Medical Assistants) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Projected Area | Base Year Employment
(2018) |
Projected Employment
(2028) |
Numeric Change | Percentage Change | Annual Job Openings |
|
Maine |
4,270 | 4,810 | 540 | +12.6% | 550 |
Source: Projections Central (2018-2028)
Maine has 550 annual job openings as per Projection Central’s anticipation, and 4,270 employed MAs in 2018 are expected to rise to 4,810 in 2028, reflecting a 12.6% hike and a 540 numeric change.)
Hiring Trends
- As per Maine Workforce Outlook, Maine is expected to witness positive growth in the healthcare workforce because of its aging population. It is already the largest sector with 100,000 jobs, and it would have a projected number of 3,728 jobs in ambulatory healthcare services and 2,310 positions in hospitals between 2014 and 2024.
- Out of the 272 growing occupations in Maine, careeronestop.org data reveals that medical assisting features among the top 10 jobs in the state, ranking at 10th with an anticipated number of 4,160 MAs in 2026 from 3,590 in 2016.
- Similarly, out of the 602 occupations in Maine, medical assisting is among the top 50 jobs and features on the 38th position as per careeronestop.org. In 2016, 3,590 total medical assistants were employed in the state.
- Another data report sponsored by the US Department of Labor claims that 541 occupations exist in Maine with openings, and medical assisting is among the top 50 jobs featuring on 33, with 470 projected job openings in the future. The total number of employed medical assistants in the state was 3,590 in 2016.
- Out of the 200 most popular jobs of Maine in 2019, medical assisting is among the top 50 featuring 31st with 4,340 total employed MAs and 0.71% employment, as per USA Wage.
- A 2019 survey by Zippia claims that the profession of an MA in ME is among the top 20 jobs in the state, ranking 13, and 3,540 total jobs are anticipated in 2024.
- Out of the 38 best companies in the field of healthcare in Maine, the top 5 companies include Idexx Laboratories, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Mainehealth, Covetrus, and NorthEast Paging, according to a hand-curated independent survey on Zippia (2019).
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.
