Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing occupations over the 2008–18 decade.
Job prospects should be excellent, particularly for those with formal training or experience, and certification.
About 62 percent of medical assistants work in offices of physicians. 13 percent work in public and private hospitals, including inpatient and outpatient facilities; and 11 percent work in offices of other health practitioners, such as chiropractors and optometrists. Most of the remainder work in other healthcare industries, such as outpatient care centers and nursing and residential care facilities.