Medical Assistant Jobs in Philadelphia, PA
Medical assistants in the Philadelphia area start around $19 an hour, and community health centers in North Philadelphia post $19 to $20 for full-time weekday roles. Penn Medicine, Jefferson, CHOP and Temple staff outpatient practices across the city. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get certified.
Current medical assistant Openings in Philadelphia, PA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Assistant Work in Philadelphia
Most Philadelphia medical assistants work in outpatient practices tied to the big health systems. Penn Medicine alone posts MA roles in transplant, OB-Gyn and fertility, surgical clinics at Penn Presbyterian and the endoscopy center at Pennsylvania Hospital. CHOP runs a pediatric primary care network with practices such as Cobbs Creek in West Philadelphia, Jefferson staffs OB-Gyn offices in Northeast Philadelphia, and Temple Physicians covers neighborhood offices from North Broad to Somerton.
The second big employer group is federally qualified health centers. Delaware Valley Community Health runs the Maria de los Santos centers on West Allegheny Avenue in Fairhill and the Fairmount Primary Care Center just north of Center City. Because Pennsylvania does not license medical assistants, each employer sets its own rules, and at the large systems a national certification is effectively the price of entry.
Top Philadelphia Employers Hiring Medical Assistants
Each of these employers posts medical assistant openings on its own career site:
- Penn Medicine - hires clinical and front-office MAs for practices at HUP, Penn Presbyterian, Pennsylvania Hospital and its specialty centers.
- Jefferson Health - hires MAs for physician offices such as its Northeast Philadelphia OB-Gyn practice and emergency department outreach.
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - hires certified medical assistants for its pediatric primary care network, including Cobbs Creek.
- Temple Health - hires MAs for Temple Physicians and Temple Faculty Physicians offices in family medicine, surgery and neighborhood practices.
- Delaware Valley Community Health - the community health center posts full-time MA roles at Maria de los Santos and Fairmount Primary Care.
Medical Assistant Salaries in Philadelphia
- Entry level: about $18 to $20 an hour for newly certified MAs.
- Experienced: about $21 to $24 an hour after a few years in a practice.
- Senior and lead: about $24 an hour and up for lead MAs and specialty clinics.
These are estimates built from Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry wage data for the Philadelphia metro, which puts entry pay near $40,000 a year and experienced pay near $48,700, cross-checked against posted community health center rates. Certification, phlebotomy and EKG skills, and specialty clinics such as transplant or OB-Gyn move pay up.
How to Become a Medical Assistant in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania has no state license for medical assistants, but employers here expect national certification: the CMA from the AAMA, the RMA from AMT or the CCMA from the NHA. Penn Medicine requires MA certification within 90 days of hire for Pennsylvania positions, plus American Heart Association BLS. Community College of Philadelphia offers a Medical Assistant Proficiency Certificate, 27 credits that can be finished in two semesters, at its Main Campus on Spring Garden Street, the Career and Advanced Technology Center on Market Street, and its Northeast and West regional centers. Graduates can sit for a national MA exam and a phlebotomy exam.
What the Job Involves
Medical assistants room patients, take vital signs and histories, update medication lists and prepare patients for the provider. Clinical duties include drawing blood, running EKGs, giving injections where the practice allows and assisting with procedures. Many also schedule visits, check in patients, handle referrals and document everything in the electronic health record.
Skills Employers Look For
- National MA certification (CMA, RMA or CCMA)
- BLS from the American Heart Association
- Vital signs, phlebotomy and EKG skills
- Epic or similar electronic health record experience
- Scheduling, check-in and insurance basics
- Calm, clear communication with patients and families
Career Path and Advancement
Penn Medicine says more than 30 percent of its medical assistants move into roles such as clinical services coordinator, nurse or practice manager, with tuition assistance along the way. In Philadelphia the next clinical step is often a practical nursing program, such as the 52-week LPN program at Orleans Technical College on Red Lion Road, or the associate degree in nursing at Community College of Philadelphia. Others move into lead MA, phlebotomy or practice operations roles inside the same health system.
Related Careers in Philadelphia
If medical assisting interests you, these related Philadelphia roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a medical assistant in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania does not license medical assistants. Employers set the rules, and most large Philadelphia practices look for a national certification such as the CMA, RMA or CCMA. Penn Medicine, for example, requires one within 90 days of hire.
How much do medical assistants make in Philadelphia?
Pennsylvania wage data for the Philadelphia metro puts entry pay around $19 an hour and experienced pay around $23. Community health centers in North Philadelphia have posted full-time roles at $19 to $20 an hour.
How long does medical assistant training take in Philadelphia?
Community College of Philadelphia's Medical Assistant Proficiency Certificate can be finished in as little as two semesters. The credits also count toward an associate degree in Health Care Studies if you keep going.
What hours do medical assistants work in Philadelphia?
Most work weekday daytime hours in outpatient practices, and community health centers typically post Monday to Friday schedules. Health systems such as Penn Medicine also hire part-time and per diem MAs.
Can a medical assistant job lead to nursing?
Yes. Many Philadelphia MAs use the job as a step toward an LPN or RN license while working. Penn Medicine reports that more than 30 percent of its medical assistants advance into roles such as nurse or practice manager.
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