Career comparison
Medical Administrative Assistant vs. Medical Transcriptionist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Medical administrative assistants earn more at the median ($45,930 vs. $40,410), while medical administrative assistants usually get to work faster (3–12 months of training). Medical administrative assistants run the front office of a clinic or hospital unit: scheduling, check-in, insurance and records. Medical transcriptionists turn doctors’ dictation into accurate medical records.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Medical Administrative Assistant | Medical Transcriptionist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $45,930 ($22.08/hr) | $40,410 ($19.43/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $35,930 – $60,530 | $28,250 – $55,950 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.8% (about as fast as average) | -4.4% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 89,200 | 6,200 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 3–12 months | Under 1 year |
| Key credential | Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) | RHDS (AHDI) |
| Work setting | Medical administrative assistants work in physician offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, dental practices and specialty centers. | Most work remotely from home; others work in hospitals or documentation companies.. |
What each job does
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
Medical Transcriptionist
- Listen to dictated reports
- Edit speech-recognition drafts
- Correct grammar and terminology
- Format medical reports
- Flag inconsistencies
How they’re similar
Both careers involve desk work, working with information, and steady routines. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
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
Choose medical transcriptionist if…
- I want remote work
- I type fast and accurately
- I like medical language
Still torn? Take the Medical Administrative Assistant fit quiz and the Medical Transcriptionist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, medical administrative assistant or medical transcriptionist?
Medical Administrative Assistants earn more at the median: $45,930 versus $40,410 for medical transcriptionists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Medical Administrative Assistants typically train faster (3–12 months) than medical transcriptionists (Under 1 year).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects medical administrative assistants to grow +4.8% from 2025–35, compared with -4.4% for medical transcriptionists.