Career comparison
Medical and Health Services Manager vs. Medical Administrative Assistant
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Medical and health services managers earn more at the median ($123,860 vs. $45,930), while medical administrative assistants usually get to work faster (3–12 months of training). Medical and health services managers run hospital departments, clinics and practices so patients get good care. Medical administrative assistants run the front office of a clinic or hospital unit: scheduling, check-in, insurance and records.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Medical and Health Services Manager | Medical Administrative Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $123,860 ($59.55/hr) | $45,930 ($22.08/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $73,390 – $224,340 | $35,930 – $60,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +24.2% (much faster than average) | +4.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 62,300 | 89,200 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 4–6 years plus experience | 3–12 months |
| Key credential | Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) | Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) |
| Work setting | Managers work in offices inside hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and health systems, with time on patient units and in meetings.. | Medical administrative assistants work in physician offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, dental practices and specialty centers. |
What each job does
Medical and Health Services Manager
- Manage department or facility budgets
- Hire, schedule and supervise staff
- Keep the organization compliant with regulations
- Improve quality, safety and patient experience
- Oversee billing, coding and records
Medical Administrative Assistant
- Schedule, confirm and reschedule patient appointments
- Register new patients and update demographic information
- Verify insurance eligibility and obtain prior authorizations
- Collect copays and post payments
- Manage referrals, records requests and faxes
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, desk work, and in-demand. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose medical and health services manager if…
- I want to lead in healthcare
- I like budgets and data
- I can handle pressure
Choose medical administrative assistant if…
- I like helping people in person and on the phone
- I can handle several tasks at the same time
- I’m careful with details like names, dates and numbers
Still torn? Take the Medical and Health Services Manager fit quiz and the Medical Administrative Assistant fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, medical and health services manager or medical administrative assistant?
Medical and Health Services Managers earn more at the median: $123,860 versus $45,930 for medical administrative assistants, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Medical Administrative Assistants typically train faster (3–12 months) than medical and health services managers (4–6 years plus experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects medical and health services managers to grow +24.2% from 2025–35, compared with +4.8% for medical administrative assistants.