Medical assistant jobs in Louisiana

Roughly 12,310 medical assistant jobs exist in Louisiana. That works out to 6.4 for every 1,000 jobs across the state, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics figures. The state places 24th of 51, which covers the 50 states plus Washington, DC.

Louisiana's labor agency anticipates about 1,830 openings each year, according to Projections Central. New positions count toward this total, as do jobs that open up when workers leave. Louisiana ranks 23rd of 51 here.

The state expects the number of medical assistant jobs to climb from 14,370 jobs in 2024 to 15,180 in 2034, an increase of 5.6%, as Projections Central reports. Nationally, the projected increase is 12.5%, while Louisiana comes in last among the 51 areas for growth.

Louisiana is projected to add jobs more slowly than any other state, but about 1,830 openings a year still means steady chances to get hired.

Median pay refers to the middle of the range. Half of workers earn above it, and half earn below. In Louisiana, that figure is $36,320 a year, while the nationwide median is $45,690, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Louisiana ranks 49th of 51 in median pay.

Job counts and median pay vary across Louisiana's metro areas. Here are the biggest metro areas for this work, drawing on federal pay data.

New Orleans has the most jobs, and Lake Charles pays best.

Not in Louisiana. According to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, no state agency licenses medical assistants. The rules do say that a physician must be physically on the premises whenever unlicensed staff are working.

Certain tasks come with restrictions. Registered nurses and advanced practice nurses may delegate medication administration to you in outpatient clinics when patients are stable, but not for IV drugs, insulin or controlled substances. Performing x-rays in a physician's office calls for Board certification after an approved course on radiological safety.

The site lists 34 Louisiana schools that report their graduate numbers through the federal college survey. Accreditation means an outside organization has reviewed the program against set standards. In Louisiana, a single school offers a program with accreditation from one of the two leading groups, CAAHEP or ABHES.

At career schools nationwide that report these figures, the median program takes about 9 months and costs $17,257 for the whole program, including tuition, fees and books, based on federal data. For public colleges, the median annual tuition and fee bill for in-district full-time students is $4,346, according to federal data.

You can find the accredited program on the Louisiana programs page, where a brief "Request information" form lets you contact that school directly.

You can take some classes through distance education in certain programs. The externship, which is hands-on practice in a clinic under supervision, always takes place in person. Nationwide, 30 programs work this way, and 14 of them are accredited, based on federal data.

National median figures give you a way to compare this career with other health care roles. These numbers cover the US for May 2025 and come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Registered nurses have the highest median pay at $97,550 a year, followed by licensed practical nurses at $64,400. Medical assistants earn a median of $45,690, phlebotomists $45,230, and nursing assistants $42,260.

About 1,830 openings come up in Louisiana every year, and career-school training nationwide often takes around 9 months. Ready to ask about training? Open the Louisiana programs page, pick the accredited program and send its short "Request information" form to that school.