by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 186 U.S. colleges awarded 4,612 degrees and certificates in Medical Office Assistant/Specialist. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 42% of graduates. College Factual ranks 82 schools in its 2027 Best Medical Office Assistant/Specialist Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $35,689 one year after completing, rising to $45,915 after four years.
Studying Medical Office Assistant/Specialist involves the study of Medical Office Assistant/specialist. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Office Managers And Other Professionals, To Perform Routine Administrative Duties In A Medical, Clinical, Or Health Care Facility/system Office Environment. Includes Instruction In General Office Skills, Data Processing, Office Equipment Operation, Principles Of Medical Record-Keeping And Business Regulations, Medical/clinical Office Procedures, And Communications Skills.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., medical office assistant/specialist is a widely-pursued major, with 4,612 degrees awarded annually. 186 colleges award medical office assistant/specialist degrees, an average of 25 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 653.
By level, the 4,612 awards include 1,318 certificates, 1,027 associate degrees, 4 bachelor’s degrees and 1,936 master’s degrees.
Women earned 93% of medical office assistant/specialist degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,293 of 4,612). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,334) and Black or African American (1,239), and international students earned 17.
College Factual ranks 82 schools in its 2027 Best Medical Office Assistant/Specialist Schools ranking, including 24 for associate degrees. It also ranks medical office assistant/specialist schools within 9 states. In all, 186 colleges offer medical office assistant/specialist programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Medical Office Assistant/Specialist Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common medical office assistant/specialist credential is the master’s degree: 1,936 of the 4,612 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to medical office assistant/specialist call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Service Orientation, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Administrative, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a medical office assistant/specialist degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,318 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,027 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,936 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to medical office assistant/specialist, at 47.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 26.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 19.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.3% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Medical Office Assistant/Specialist, with an average median salary of $61,212; the strongest outlook belongs to Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, at 6.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Hospital Secretary, Dental Office Receptionist, Medical Administrative Assistant and Insurance Verifier.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to medical office assistant/specialist, at 1,326,215.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 1,326,215 | 6.9% |
Medical Office Assistant/Specialist graduates earn a median $35,689 one year after completing their program, $45,915 after four years and $40,536 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,689 |
| 4 years | $45,915 |
| 5 years | $40,536 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to medical office assistant/specialist, with a median salary of $61,212.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $61,212 |
Medical Office Assistant/Specialist has 23 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 84,393 degrees a year; the largest are Health/Health Care Administration/Management (28,683), Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician (12,262) and Medical Insurance Specialist/Medical Biller (11,432). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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