Healthcare in Texas is big business – not surprising in a state that’s home to 29 million residents and ranked first in the nation for population growth between 2018 and 2019.
For example, the healthcare industry in the Dallas Fort Worth area alone generates $52 billion annually, which represents about 15% of all economic activity here and accounts for 331,000 healthcare jobs. Just a few of the big players in the DFW worth area include Baylor Scott & White, Baylor University Medical Center, Children’s Health, and Dallas Regional Medical Center.
With a healthcare industry this size, you know you won’t have a hard time landing a job in medical assisting, whether you’re new to the profession or making your way up the career ladder. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, job projections in this field look downright impressive in the coming years. As of 2019, there were 60,910 medical assistants working in the Lone Star State. By 2021, 3,500 jobs are expected to be added – an increase of 4.3% in just two years.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals an average, hourly wage of $15.37, or $31,980 annually, for medical assistants in Texas as of 2019. Earn a few years of experience and show a commitment to your profession by earning nationally-recognized certification and you’ll begin working your way toward the top 10% here who earned an average, hourly wage of $20.50, or $42,640 annually during this time.
Average Hourly Wages for Medical Assistants in Texas’ Metro Areas
The Houston and DFW metro areas are not only tops when it comes to the number of medical assistants working here; they are also leaders in terms of pay.
BLS stats reveal the following average, hourly wage range (median- top 10%) for medical assistants working in Texas’ largest metro areas:
- Amarillo: $15.14 – $19.17 (approximately 460 medical assistants)
- Brownsville (greater metro area includes Harlingen): $12.15 – $17.53 (approximately 1,180 medical assistants)
- College Station (greater metro area includes Bryan): $14.36 – $18.80 (approximately 490 medical assistants)
- Corpus Christi: $14.12 – $18.18 (approximately 1,290 medical assistants)
- Dallas-Fort Worth (greater metro area includes Arlington): $16.37 – $21.41 (approximately 19,560 medical assistants)
- El Paso: $12.06 – $15.72 (approximately 1,900 medical assistants)
- Houston (greater metro area includes the Woodlands and Sugar Land): $16.31 – $21.68 (approximately 14,710 medical assistants)
- Laredo: $11.34 – $14.93 (approximately 520 medical assistants)
- Lubbock: $13.78 – $18.58 (approximately 720 medical assistants)
- San Antonio (greater metro area includes New Braunfels): $14.96 – $18.89 (approximately 6,680 medical assistants)
- Tyler: $14.30 – $19.23 (approximately 890 medical assistants)
- Waco: $15.43 – $20.21 (approximately 1,050 medical assistants)
Average Salaries for Medical Assistants in Texas’ Metro Areas
The BLS reported the following salary range (median – top 10%) for medical assistants in Texas’ largest metro areas:
- Amarillo: $31,480 – $39,880
- Brownsville (greater metro area includes Harlingen): $25,280 – $36,470
- College Station (greater metro area includes Bryan): $29,860 – $39,110
- Corpus Christi: $29,370 – $37,820
- Dallas-Fort Worth (greater metro area includes Arlington): $34,040 – $44,540
- El Paso: $25,090 – $32,690
- Houston (greater metro area includes the Woodlands and Sugar Land): $33,930 – $45,100
- Laredo: $23,590 – $31,050
- Lubbock: $28,660 – $38,650
- San Antonio (greater metro area includes New Braunfels): $31,120 – $39,290
- Tyler: $29,740 – $40,010
- Waco: $32,100 – $42,030
US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for medical assistants represents state data not school-specific information.
2019 job growth projections from the Texas Workforce Commission are aggregated through the U.S. Department of Labor-Sponsored resource, Projections Central.
Conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and employment data accessed May 2020.