Medical Assistants
Healthcare Support
Interviews patients and measures height, weight, and vital signs, then shows them into a prepared exam room. During the visit they may draw blood or collect other specimens, hand the physician instruments, give injections, or remove sutures, and they explain the doctor's instructions on medicines, diet, or follow-up. Between patients they sterilize instruments, dispose of contaminated supplies, and enter histories and test results in the record. Scheduling and insurance coding are often part of the same job. For people who want both patient contact and careful records, and are comfortable following a physician's direction.
Typical education: Post-Secondary Certificate (vocational/technical)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$45'690
Median Wage Market Position
$45'690
What you might do
- Measure patients' vital signs, weight, and height
- Record medical histories and test results
- Ready exam rooms and prepare patients for the doctor
- Draw blood and prepare specimens for lab tests
- Hand instruments or give injections during visits
- Explain the physician's instructions to patients
Skills that matter
- Patient interviews and vital-sign checks
- Explanations of treatments, medications, and diets
- Lab specimen collection and logging
- Chart notes for histories and results
- Exam-room setup for the physician
- Injections and suture removal as directed
AI & the future of this role
Front-desk scheduling, documentation, and routine intake are areas software could take on more of. Taking vitals, rooming patients, and in-person care still matter, so prospects look mixed rather than secure or grim.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details