by our College Data Analytics TeamDoctors have many patients and work to provide medical services to people whenever necessary. With a degree in Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, you will be able to aid doctors to ensure all patients receive proper and timely treatment.
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services professionals help doctors by aiding with administrational and clinical tasks. They perform exams, give injections, and schedule appointments. In order to gain the skills to properly aid medical professionals, students take classes in medical software, terminology, procedures, office administration, and pharmacology.
There are many types of medical professions that require an assistant. Some of the areas of specialization available to students include Clinical Assistant, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapy Assistant, Veterinary Technology, Anesthesiologist Assistant, Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance), Pathology Assistant, Respiratory Therapy Technician, and Radiologist Assistant among others.
A major in Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services explores Allied Health And Medical Assisting Services. Read on to learn the key facts every allied health & medical assisting services student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering allied health & medical assisting services programs.
Across the country, allied health & medical assisting services is a popular field of study, with 80,693 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services Schools ranking analyzes these 1,464 schools to determine the best overall colleges for allied health & medical assisting services students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of allied health & medical assisting services programs later in this article.
Programs in Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations allied health & medical assisting services graduates commonly enter.
Medical assistants not only work with doctors, but closely with patients, as well. This means students should have strong communication and interpersonal skills to make patients feel comfortable and relay important information to physicians. Analytical skills and close attention to detail help professionals read medical charts and make diagnoses based on symptoms and tests.
A degree in Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services leads to a full time job at a variety of medical centers. Assistants may work in offices or clinics that are open during normal business hours, while others assist doctors at 24/7 facilities, such as hospitals.
While no formal education is required to become an Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services professional, some students decide to pursue a degree from a community college or vocational school. Others learn skills from on the job training.
Skills built by a allied health & medical assisting services program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a allied health & medical assisting services major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several allied health & medical assisting services degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 41,711 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 15,499 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,053 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 17,310 |
People currently working in careers related to allied health & medical assisting services tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 21.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 20.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 19.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.9% |
| Some college courses | 8.8% |
| Master’s degree | 8.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 2.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in allied health & medical assisting services careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Since there are so many medical professions, Allied health and Medical Assisting Services graduates work in a variety of locations. Some locations are specialized doctors' offices, health clinics, and hospitals. It is predicted that the need for medical assistants will continue to grow, allowing doctors to care for more patients during the day.
Majoring in allied health & medical assisting services opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to allied health & medical assisting services.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to allied health & medical assisting services.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Patient Representatives | 3,368,169 | 4.8% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | 3,206,816 | 12.2% |
| Histology Technicians | 2,948,902 | -0.2% |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 2,908,248 | 9.4% |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 2,546,481 | 1.6% |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | 1,852,560 | 14.1% |
| Surgical Technologists | 1,820,366 | -3.0% |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | 1,554,194 | 14.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of allied health & medical assisting services graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,434 |
| 4 years | $29,082 |
| 5 years | $32,352 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for allied health & medical assisting services graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers allied health & medical assisting services grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | $155,908 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $153,940 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | $153,819 |
| Neurodiagnostic Technologists | $81,316 |
| Histology Technicians | $80,721 |
| Surgical Technologists | $73,045 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $72,773 |
| Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians | $64,291 |
With 1,464 different allied health & medical assisting services programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased allied health & medical assisting services school rankings to help you.
Those considering allied health & medical assisting services, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
