How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Nevada?
A medical assistant in Nevada makes between $14 and $18 per hour. The highest annual salary observed by an MA in the state is $37,186, whereas the lowest is $28,345, according to data from salary.com and ZipRecruiter, respectively.
| Resource | Hourly Salary | Annual Salary | Date Updated |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLS | $16.76 | $34,860 | March 31, 2020 |
| Indeed | $14.94 | $34,779 | December 13, 2020 |
| Salary.com | $18 | $37,186 | November 25, 2020 |
| ZipRecruiter | $14 | $28,345 | October 23, 2020 |
The above table reflects the salary for certified as well as non-certified medical assistants employed in Nevada. However, it must be noted that top employers have an established preference for certified professionals from the field that exhibit a dedication to their vocation and are equipped with adequate formal training.
Average Medical Assistant Salaries in Nevada
According to the latest data available on indeed.com, uploaded on September 23, 2020, medical assistants in Nevada obtain a salary of $14.88 per hour. The state pays its medical assistants at par with the national hourly wage.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics data reveals that the mean hourly salary of medical assistants in Nevada is $16.76, and the annual mean wage is $34,860, as of May 2019.
| Percentile | Annual Salary (Nevada) | Annual Salary (National) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $26,760 | $25,820 |
| 25% | $30,330 | $29,460 |
| 50% | $34,630 | $34,800 |
| 75% | $38,850 | $40,270 |
| 90% | $44,770 | $48,720 |
Source: BLS (as of May 2019)
As the table depicts, the annual salary of MAs in NV is higher than the national annual salary of medical assistants at the 10th and 25th percentiles. It is almost at par with the national salary at the 50th percentile but becomes lower than the national average at 75th and 90th percentiles.
Highest Paying Cities for Medical Assistants in NV
As salaries of medical assistants differ between states, wages difference between cities within a state too. There are numerous factors responsible for it. Without going into these, here’s a glimpse at the top 8 cities in Nevada that are known for paying the highest hourly salary to their MAs:
| City | Per Hour Salary (indeed.com) | Per Hour Salary (salary.com) |
|---|---|---|
| Carson City, NV | $19.19 | $18 |
| Incline Village, NV | $19.06 | $18 |
| Sparks, NV | $17.05 | $18 |
| Boulder City, NV | $16.52 | $18 |
| Reno, NV | $16.47 | $18 |
| Elko, NV | $15.57 | $15 |
| Henderson, NV | $14.52 | $18 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $14.37 | $18 |
Source: indeed.com (December 13, 2020) & salary.com (November 25, 2020)
According to the data from indeed.com, the highest paying city in Nevada was Carson City at $19.19, closely followed by Incline Village at $19.06 and Sparks at $17.05. The lowest paying city is Henderson and Las Vegas, according to indeed.com, whereas according to other reports, it is Elko at $15.
Highest Paying Metropolitan Areas for Nevada Medical Assistants
As cities have different salaries, metropolitan areas also have different wages for the medical assistants they employ, owing to several factors. Here are the top 3 metropolitan areas that pay the highest salaries to their MAs:
| Metropolitan Area | Mean Annual Wage | 10th Percentile Wage | 50th Percentile (Median) Wage | 90th Percentile Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | $34,480 | $26,590 | $34,150 | $44,040 |
| Reno, NV | $36,250 | $26,870 | $36,330 | $47,050 |
| Carson City, NV | $36,790 | $32,230 | $36,980 | $41,990 |
Source: BLS (as of March 31, 2020)
The highest-paying metropolitan area in Nevada is Reno, NV at $47,050 90th percentile wage and $36,250 mean annual salary, closely followed by Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV at $34,480 mean annual wage and $34,150 median salary, whereas its 90th percentile wage goes up to $44,040 and leaves the other metropolitan area Carson City, NV behind ($41,990 90th percentile wage).
Top 3 Cities/Areas with Highest Employment
BLS data reflects that the total number of employed medical assistants in Nevada is 6,800, and the location quotient of employment is 1.01. Also, 4.88 is the employment per 1,000 rate. Here are the top 3 cities that have the highest number of employed MAs:
| Metropolitan Area | Number of Employed Medical Assistants |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV | 5,310 |
| Reno, NV | 910 |
| Carson City, NV | 160 |
Source: BLS (as of March 31, 2020)
Out of the total 6,800 employed MAs in the state, Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV employs more than 90% of the total number. A total of 5,310 employed MAs are working in metropolitan areas. The other 2 places that make it to the top 3 cities include Reno, NV and Carson City, NV.
Top 10 Paying Employers for Medical Assistants in Nevada
Medical assistants are employed in many settings, from hospitals and clinics to ambulatory settings. The top 10 highest paying employers in Nevada include:
| Employer | Per Hour Salary |
|---|---|
| Perry Ellis International, Inc | $28.00 |
| Kaiser Permanente | $23.89 |
| The Polyclinic | $22.52 |
| Virginia Mason Medical Center | $21.12 |
| NYU Langone Health | $20.71 |
| Atrius Health | $20.25 |
| Summit Medical Group | $19.73 |
| Tahoe Forest Hospital District | $19.30 |
| MultiCare Health System | $18.50 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | $18.15 |
Source: Indeed (as of December 13, 2020)
Kaiser Permanente is the highest paying employer in many states, but in Nevada, the top-paying employer is Perry Elis International, Inc, with a $28 hourly salary for its MAs. The second position is occupied by Kaiser Permanente, with $23.89, and The Polyclinic occupies the third position with $22.52.
Benefits for Nevada Medical Assistants other than Salaries
According to the recent data from salary.com, the base salary of a medical assistant is $37,186, which makes up for 67.4% of the total compensation. A bonus of $44 is also provided, which makes up for another 0.1% of their payment. Total compensation for the MAs in the state comes to $55,158. Other perks medical assistants enjoy in Nevada include:
-
Healthcare
A medical assistant enjoys healthcare insurance of $6,371, which makes up for 11.6% of their total compensation, in addition to their base salary and bonus.
-
Time-Off
Medical assistants in Nevada also enjoy paid time-offs of $4,725, contributing to a whopping 8.6% of their total compensation.
-
Social Security
5.2% of their total compensation is put towards social security, which makes up for $2,848.
-
401K/403B
A total of 3.3% of compensation is kept towards the retirement program. Your employer contributes $1,824 to this retirement plan yearly.
-
Pension
Your employer keeps aside 2.8% for your pension plans to secure your life after retirement. It amounts to $1,564 every year in Nevada.
-
Disability
An additional 1.1% goes towards the disability insurance for MAs, where compensation of $596 is kept aside.
-
Flexible Working Hours
Medical assistants in Nevada are also entitled to flexible working hours, and they do not have to tire beyond their working hours.
Salaries of Similar Professions in Nevada
| Related Professions | Average Hourly Salary |
|---|---|
| Clinical Assistant | $20.65 |
| Certified Medical Assistant | $14.98 |
| Back Office Medical Assistant | $14.32 |
| Medical Office Assistant | $14.33 |
| Medical Scribe | $14.09 |
| Medical Receptionist | $13.68 |
Source: indeed (as of December 13, 2020)
There are numerous other allied healthcare professions that pay in the same range as a medical assistant. These professions pay between $13 and $15 per hour. The highest paying similar job is a Clinical Assistant who earns $20.65 per hour, followed by a Certified MA, which makes $14.98, and Back Office MA with $14.32.
| Related Professions | Average Yearly Salary |
|---|---|
| Physician Assistant- Specialty | $120,872 |
| Physician Assistant- Medical | $111,311 |
| Medical Billing Specialist | $43,005 |
| Medical Secretary | $42,623 |
| Medical Librarian Assistant | $38,854 |
| Medical Scribe | $35,727 |
Source: salary.com (as of November 25, 2020)
Out of other similar professions, Physician Assistant- Specialty earns the highest ($120,872) in a year, closely followed by Physician Assistant- Medical, earning $111,311 yearly. Other related professionals, such as Medical Billing Specialist or Medical Librarian Assistant, make in the range of $35,000 and $43,000 annually.
Projected Employment and Hiring Trends for NV Medical Assistants (2018-2028)
Job Outlook
Healthcare and allied healthcare professions are ranked within the top 10 works of the state, as per the latest research. The demand for medical assistants in Nevada is only expected to rise in the coming years, as an anticipated growth of approximately 26% has been recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In this scenario, it is crucial to have a competitive edge over other medical assistant aspirants by having formal training from an institute with CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation and national certification.
Numerous organizations provide nationally acclaimed certifications as well that stand out as evidence of your skills and aptitude. However, the 2 most reputed institutions are:
- American Medical Technologists (AMT): notable for their RMA licensure
- American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA): known for their CMA certification
| Estimated Employment and Projected Growth (Medical Assistants) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Projected Area | Base Year Employment
(2018) |
Projected Employment
(2028) |
Numeric Change | Percentage Change | Annual Job Openings |
|
Nevada |
1,720 | 2,160 | 440 |
+25.6% |
260 |
Source: Projections Central
With the annual job openings at 260, as reported by Projections Central, Nevada has a prosperous future for medical assistants and medical assistant aspirants. The percentage change noted between the base year of employment in 2018 and the projected employment year of 2028 is 25.6%, and the numeric change is 440.
Hiring Trends
- Nevada Business reports that the healthcare industry is being an essential part of Nevada’s economy as the state is exceeding 10-year projections in 2 years or so, there is a demand for recruiting new talent.
- Careeronestop.org reveals that the profession of a medical assistant is among the top 100 fastest-growing jobs in the state of Nevada, featuring in 59th position with 5,810 total employed MAs in 2018 and having a projection of 7,200 for 2028.
- Out of the total 607 occupations found in Nevada, the job of a medical assistant is among the top 50 jobs that have the most annual openings, featuring at 45. It is revealed by a report sponsored by the US Department of Labor, which also puts the anticipated annual openings at 260.
- Similarly, it also features among the top 50 jobs that have the largest employment in Nevada. This sponsored report by the US Department of Labor cites that Nevada ranks 49th.
- Out of the 200 most popular jobs in Nevada, medical assistant ranks at 44. This survey from 2019 depicts 6,800 total MAs are employed in the state, and the employment percentage is 0.49%.
- The job of an MA is also among the fastest-growing jobs in NV, ranking 27th, with 7,610 anticipated jobs in 2024, according to a zippia survey done in 2019.
- Similarly, another survey from zippia reveals that the top 5 companies responsible for recruiting experienced medical assistants in Nevada, out of the 22 best healthcare companies in the state, are Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, followed by Clark County, Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, Carson Valley Medical Center and Evergreen Healthcare.
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.
