Medical assistant jobs in Delaware

Roughly 2,880 medical assistants work in Delaware. That works out to 5.9 medical assistants for every 1,000 jobs statewide, according to federal wage data. Delaware ranks 43rd out of 51 (the 50 states plus Washington, DC) in the total number of these jobs.

The available figures cover the Dover area and the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area, which also covers parts of other states.

That metro area reaches into parts of 4 states, which is why its job count runs higher than the state's own count.

The state's labor agency projects about 440 medical assistant openings each year. Both brand-new positions and jobs left behind when workers retire or move on are counted in that number. The agency also expects the total to climb from 3,040 jobs in 2024 to 3,530 jobs in 2034.

That works out to 16.0% growth, ahead of the 12.5% expected nationwide. Delaware ranks 22nd of 51 for projected growth, and 41st of 51 for yearly openings. With about 440 openings every year, there's steady room for newly trained medical assistants.

The median comes to $44,490 each year, which works out to $21.39 an hour. That middle figure means half of medical assistants earn more and the other half earn less. Nationally, the median is slightly higher at $45,690, and Delaware ranks 31st of 51 for pay.

Your workplace makes a difference. In the Dover area, the median is $41,000. In the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area, the median is $45,890.

Delaware asks for state certification only when an advanced practice registered nurse assigns you to give medications. In practices run only by these nurses, the nurse must be in the building while you do, under the Delaware Medical Board's rule.

Physician supervision is covered by that same rule. With direct supervision, the physician stays on the premises. With indirect supervision, the physician can get there within 30 minutes.

Standing orders are written directions a physician leaves behind for routine tasks. Delaware's rule does not allow them to be used for diagnosing or prescribing.

We list 4 Delaware schools that report their medical assistant graduates to the federal College Navigator survey, and 1 of them has an accredited program. An accredited program has been checked against national standards by an outside group, CAAHEP or ABHES.

Nationwide, the median length of a career school program is 9 months, and most run 7 to 9 months. The median cost for an entire career school program is $17,257, and that covers tuition, fees and books. A public college charges in-district students a median of $4,346 for full-time study for one year, according to federal college data.

Distance education is an option at some programs. The hands-on clinical practice, which people often call an externship, always takes place in person at a clinic or office. Across the country, 30 programs can be completed with distance education, and 14 of those are accredited.

1. Open the Delaware programs page and look at the schools close to you.
2. Choose the accredited program that works with your schedule. Only 1 of the 4 schools we list has an accredited program, so start there.
3. Use the short Request information form to reach the school you chose, and include your name, email, phone, ZIP code and start time.

The Request information form is for the one accredited program you choose.