Worker Characteristics Ability to coordinate the movement of eyes and hands or fingers Ability to talk to patients and gather information about them Ability to move the fingers quickly and accurately Ability to move the hands easily and skillfully Ability to use words well when speaking to others Desire to help people with their physical needs Willingness to perform a variety of tasks Medical assistants need to be able to put patients at ease. Medical assistants work inside in a clean, well-lighted environment. Assistants continually interact with people. They often handle several responsibilities at once. Full-time assistants usually work 40 hours a week.
Some assistants work part time, evenings, or weekends.
Wages vary with level of training, experience and location. Entry level wages may be lower. Pay varies widely with the worker's area of the country, experience, and skill level. Wages are higher in the Northeast and West. Full-time medical assistants generally receive benefits.