How much does a medical secretary make?
a year · about $22 an hour
A typical medical secretary in the United States makes $45,930 a year, about $22 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
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.
Did you know? 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.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $35,930 and $60,530How do you become one?
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.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like keeping things organized and helping and teaching
Why does pay differ?
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.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($58,100), lowest in Louisiana ($36,930).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35,930 | $45,930 | $60,530 | about 962,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $58,100 | about 11,000 |
| California | $54,490 | about 115,000 |
| Massachusetts | $50,290 | about 22,000 |
| Oregon | $50,130 | about 17,000 |
| Minnesota | $50,030 | about 17,000 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/secretaries-and-administrative
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/43-6013.00
- www.bls.gov/ors/factsheet/medical-secretaries-and-administrative-assistants.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY