Medical Assistants

Employers

About 783,900 medical assistants are employed in physicians' offices, clinics, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, and other medical facilities. Approximately 56 percent work in private doctors' offices and 16 percent work in hospitals. About 9 percent work in outpatient care centers and nursing and residential care facilities, and 8 percent work in the offices of other health care providers such as chiropractors.

Starting Out

Students enrolled in college or other postsecondary school medical assistant programs may learn of available positions through their school career services offices. High school counselors may have information about positions for students about to graduate. Professional associations and employment Web sites also offer information about job opportunities and employers of medical assistants. Newspaper want ads and state employment offices are other good places to look for leads. You may also wish to call local physicians' offices to find out about unadvertised openings.