Medical assistant jobs in Mississippi

Around 3,340 people hold medical assistant jobs in Mississippi, equal to 2.9 for every 1,000 jobs across the state. Federal wage data ranks Mississippi 40th of 51 in job count, a tally that includes the 50 states plus Washington, DC. The overall count stays fairly small, but openings come along steadily. Mississippi's labor agency expects around 610 openings each year. That number covers new positions and jobs that open up when workers retire or move into different careers.

State projections put the job count at 3,740 in 2024 and 4,790 in 2034, a rise of 28.1%. That is more than twice the US rate of 12.5%, based on state projections. Just 3 states are expected to expand faster, which leaves Mississippi 4th of 51.

The state ranks 38th of 51 for yearly openings, but with growth this strong, those roughly 610 openings a year mean steady chances to get hired.

The median wage works out to $35,360 each year ($17.00 an hour). Half of medical assistants earn more than that, and half earn less. Nationally, the median is $45,690. Federal wage data shows Mississippi sitting last of 51 for median pay.

The middle half of workers make from $31,200 up to $38,190 each year. The bottom tenth of earners make $29,210 or under, while the top tenth make $45,070 or above.

Your workplace affects your earnings. Memphis has the most jobs and the highest pay of the four areas below: about 3,350 jobs at a median of $39,260 a year.

Mississippi has no state certification requirement for medical assistants. What exists instead is a Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure policy covering the work you may perform. A physician assigns you certain duties, called delegating, and keeps responsibility for those duties.

The policy lays out several straightforward rules:

• The physician has to remain in the clinic while you provide care.
• The physician cannot assign you tasks that go beyond what your training prepared you for.
• You have to wear a name tag, and you may not present yourself as a nurse.
• X-ray work needs a board permit with 12 hours of education.

Your training decides which tasks you may handle, so the program you pick shapes the work available to you.

Six Mississippi schools report medical assistant graduates to the federal government, and two of them offer a program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES. Accreditation means that an outside group such as CAAHEP or ABHES has reviewed a program and confirmed that it meets its standards.

Across the country, among career schools that report program length, the median is 9 months, and reported lengths range from 2 to 32 months, based on federal school data. Cost varies too. A full career school program costs a median of $17,257, and that price includes tuition, fees and books. Public colleges charge a median of $4,346 for a year of full-time study when students live in district.

Wages in Mississippi fall below the national figure, so the price tag matters. Compare each program's full cost before you enroll: the career school figure covers a whole program, while the public college figure covers one year of tuition and fees.

Certain programs allow classes through distance education. Across the country, 30 programs can be finished this way, and 14 of those hold accreditation. The hands-on portion still happens face to face. That part is called an externship, which means supervised practice in a clinic or doctor's office.

Online study can make classes easier to fit around a job or family responsibilities. Plan ahead for the clinical hours you will do in person.

1. Go to the Mississippi program page and look over the program table.
2. Pick an accredited program that suits your location and your budget.
3. Send that school the short Request information form today. It takes a minute, and you'll hear from that school while new jobs keep opening across the state.