How much does a medical secretary make?

In the U.S., experience, useful certificates, and specialized or more responsible duties can affect a medical secretary’s pay. It also varies by employer, location, and hours worked.

Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

What's a typical day like?

They answer phones, welcome patients, book appointments or tests, and fill out insurance forms. Between visits, they update medical records, send messages and bills, and keep the clinic’s paperwork moving.

In the U.S., finish high school or a GED and learn basic office-computer skills; a community college or technical-school course can teach medical terms. Employers then train new hires in office procedures, usually for weeks and sometimes several months.

High school plus some training (preparation level 2 of 5)

Good for people who like keeping things organized and helping and teaching.

In 2025, nearly 7 in 10 medical secretaries in the U.S. had to speak with others every few minutes—so conversation is a constant part of the job.