Medical Secretary: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

Median pay

$45,930

BLS May 2025

Employed in the U.S.

961,610

BLS May 2025

Preparation

Job Zone 1-2 of 5

very little to some preparation

Most common education

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

48% of workers

Data Government data groups this job as Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (O*NET-SOC 43-6013.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff.
2. Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations.
3. Complete insurance or other claim forms.
4. Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff.
5. Transmit correspondence or medical records by mail, e-mail, or fax.
6. Maintain medical records, technical library, or correspondence files.
7. Receive and route messages or documents, such as laboratory results, to appropriate staff.
8. Interview patients to complete documents, case histories, or forms, such as intake or insurance forms.

Telework available

3.2%

of workers had the ability to telework

Workday sitting

87.9%

mean share of the day required to sit

Most common strength level

Sedentary

86.9% of workers

Can pause work

44.9%

of workers could take short, unscheduled breaks

Self-paced workload

less than 5%

of workers set their own workload

Employer-changed schedules

27.2%

of workers had schedules changed by the employer week to week

On TryHired lists: Desk jobs.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey. Estimates are preliminary; ranges are shown as published.

1. Ambulatory healthcare services63.3% of all jobs in this occupation · +6.3% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $46,120
2. Hospitals; state, local, and private24.5% of all jobs in this occupation · +1.8% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $48,590
3. Administrative and support services2.3% of all jobs in this occupation · +1.2% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $45,260
4. Nursing and residential care facilities2.1% of all jobs in this occupation · +0.1% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $45,760
5. Management of companies and enterprises1.6% of all jobs in this occupation · +2.6% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $47,950
6. Professional, scientific, and technical services1.4% of all jobs in this occupation · +8.9% projected change here 2025–35 · mean wage $46,470

Sources: BLS 2025–35 National Employment Matrix (share of the occupation's jobs, projected change) and BLS OEWS May 2025 industry estimates (mean wage). Different industry estimates are not a pay forecast for any person.

Knowledge areas: Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Administrative, Medicine and Dentistry, Personnel and Human Resources, Computers and Electronics.

• Henry Schein DentrixMedical softwareIn demand
• Epic SystemsMedical softwareHot technology
• MEDITECH softwareMedical softwareHot technology
• eClinicalWorks EHR softwareMedical softwareHot technology
• Allscripts PayerpathMedical software
• Amazing ChartsMedical software
• Billing softwareBilling and invoicing software
• CPSI CPSI SystemMedical software
• Electronic health record EHR softwareMedical software
• Google DriveCloud-based data access and sharing software
• Graphics softwareGraphics or photo imaging software
• HMSMedical software

Also called: Clinic Office Assistant, Front Desk Receptionist, Medical Office Specialist, Medical Receptionist, Physician Office Specialist.