Hiring Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

What do medical secretaries and administrative assistants do?

• Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff.
• Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
• Complete insurance or other claim forms.
• Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff.
• Transmit correspondence or medical records by mail, e-mail, or fax.
• Maintain medical records, technical library, or correspondence files.

Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 43-6013.00.

What does it take to become one?

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

O*NET Job Zone 2, SVP (4.0 to < 6.0). O*NET OnLine.

Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, eClinicalWorks EHR software, Epic Systems, Google Docs, Henry Schein Dentrix for this role.

What do medical secretaries and administrative assistants get paid?

BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for medical secretaries and administrative assistants in 92 of the metro areas we publish data for. The median ranges from $36,220 to $69,350 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $45,620. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.

BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 43-6013.

What does hiring one cost?

The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest median any metro we publish data for pays medical secretaries and administrative assistants is $69,350 a year, place of work (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $13,870 to $20,805 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.

Frequently asked

How fast can a medical secretary search fill?

Typically 23 to 35 days, and typically 2 to 3x faster than a contingency search, per our recruiting partner's published figures. Both are typical rather than guaranteed.

What if the hire does not work out?

A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.