Pennsylvania pays medical assistants $37,780 median salary — 15% below the national average, but training costs just $6,500 at community colleges like Lehigh Carbon. The state employs 23,650 medical assistants across urban health systems and rural family practices, with most job growth concentrated in suburban Philadelphia and Pittsburgh markets.
Salary and employment data: Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · Training Path
How to Become a Medical Assistant in Pennsylvania
Four CAAHEP-accredited programs serve Pennsylvania, from Lehigh Carbon's $6,500 certificate to Central Penn's comprehensive 12-month program.
- 1
Medical Assistant Certificate Program
education9 months · $12,000-$18,000
Complete a postsecondary certificate program accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES, including classroom instruction and a mandatory supervised clinical externship in an ambulatory healthcare setting.
- 2
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Exam
training licensing1 month · $125
Pass the CMA (AAMA) national certification exam. Certification is highly preferred by employers and demonstrates competency in clinical and administrative medical assisting skills.
- 3
Medical Assistant - Entry Level
career2 years ·
Work as a certified medical assistant in ambulatory healthcare settings, performing both clinical duties (vital signs, patient preparation, assisting with exams) and administrative tasks (scheduling, medical records, billing).
Accredited Programs · Pennsylvania
Accredited Medical Assistant Programs in Pennsylvania
Accreditation matters because Pennsylvania's licensing board typically only recognizes graduates from programs vetted by a national body. The programs below hold active accreditation and are in good standing as of the last verification date.
4 of ~undefined accredited programs in Pennsylvania
| Institution | Credential | Length | Estimated Cost | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lackawanna College Scranton | Certificate | 8 mo | $8,000–$12,000 | CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) |
| Central Penn College Summerdale | Certificate | 1 yr | $10,000–$19,404 | CAAHEP |
| Delaware County Community College Media | Certificate | 1 yr | $6,500–$10,929 | CAAHEP |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College Schnecksville | Certificate | 1 yr | $4,500–$9,394 | CAAHEP |
Loading programs...
Last verified 2026-04-05. Program details — including tuition, duration, and accreditation — verified against each institution's official website.
Pennsylvania · Licensing Authority
Licensing and Certification in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania regulates this career through the credentials below. The “issuing body” is the organization that awards and renews the credential — some are national associations, others are Pennsylvania's own licensing authority.
| Credential | Issuing Body | Type | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) (AAMA) | American Association of Medical Assistants | certification | voluntary |
| RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) (AMT (American Medical Technologists)) | American Medical Technologists | certification | alternative |
Pennsylvania · BLS OEWS 2024
Medical Assistant Salary in Pennsylvania
With program costs as low as $6,500, even Pennsylvania's below-national salary creates a compelling payback timeline.
10th
$37,773
25th
$42,806
Median
$37,780
75th
$46,488
90th
$49,899
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 23,650 employed in Pennsylvania
HealthJob Analysis · Pennsylvania
Is It Worth It? ROI in Pennsylvania
Year 2
Break-even
$867k
20-year net
$15k
Education cost
20-year net earnings = cumulative income minus education cost and the years you weren't earning.
Assumes Pennsylvania median salary of $37,780, 2% annual wage growth, no loan interest. Does not account for cost of living.
HealthJob Analysis · Pennsylvania
AI & Automation for Medical Assistants in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, UPMC and Penn Medicine have deployed ambient AI documentation tools for physicians, but these systems don't touch the hands-on clinical work that medical assistants perform daily.
Tasks that are changing
- AI handles major parts
- AI augments
- AI assists
- Human-only
Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms.
Schedule appointments for patients.
Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.
Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients.
Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
Physical measurements require manual tools; no deployed AI or robots handle vitals broadly across multiple sites.
Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
Manual physical task; no deployed robots at multiple sites for room prep or cleaning.
Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
Requires physical guidance; no broad AI or robot deployment for escorting patients.
AI products in use today
- DAX Copilot — Nuance/Microsoftsource
- Abridge — Abridge
- Envoy Visitors — Envoy
- Smith.ai — Smith.ai
- Ringg AI Voice Agent — Ringg
Pennsylvania · Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do medical assistants make in Pennsylvania?
- Medical assistants in Pennsylvania earn $37,780 median salary, which is 15% below the national average. Salaries range from $37,773 at the 10th percentile to $49,899 at the 90th percentile, with most variation based on geographic location and employer size.
- Do I need a license to work as a medical assistant in Pennsylvania?
- No license is required to work as a medical assistant in Pennsylvania. The state allows medical assistants to perform clinical tasks under physician supervision without additional state credentialing, though voluntary national certification through CMA or RMA improves job prospects.
- Where can I get medical assistant training in Pennsylvania?
- Four CAAHEP-accredited programs offer medical assistant training in Pennsylvania. Lehigh Carbon Community College costs approximately $6,500-$9,400, while Delaware County Community College runs $6,500-$10,900, both completing in 12 months.
- How long does medical assistant training take in Pennsylvania?
- Medical assistant programs in Pennsylvania take 8-12 months to complete. Lackawanna College offers the shortest program at 8 months, while most other CAAHEP-accredited schools require 12 months of full-time study.
- What medical assistant jobs are available in Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania employs 23,650 medical assistants across physician offices, outpatient clinics, and specialty practices. Major health systems like UPMC, Penn Medicine, and Geisinger offer the most positions, concentrated in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg metro areas.
Sources & Data
These references are used to build salary, training-path, and job-outlook estimates shown on this page.
- •Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
- •O*NET OnLine
- •AAMA
- •AMT
- •HealthJob AI Impact Analysis
- •BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Medical Assistants
- •Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS State Data — Pennsylvania
Data last refreshed: April 2026