Medical Secretary salary
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What a medical secretary does
Medical secretaries and administrative assistants run the administrative side of a clinic or hospital department — scheduling, records, billing and patient contact.
Day-to-day duties
- Schedule appointments and manage the diary
- Maintain electronic health records
- Handle insurance verification and billing queries
- Answer patient calls and correspondence
- Prepare clinical documentation
Skills employers look for
- Medical terminology
- Electronic health record systems
- Discretion with confidential information
- Calm handling of anxious patients
Requirements Entry level
- High school diploma; postsecondary certificate often preferred
- Medical terminology knowledge
- HIPAA compliance training
- Strong computer skills
How to get started
- 1 Start in general reception or clerical work
- 2 Learn medical terminology and EHR systems
- 3 Move into a medical office role
- 4 Progress to practice administration or medical billing
Job outlook: Grows with outpatient care. Roles combining administration with billing or coding knowledge pay above general medical admin.
Common questions about medical secretaries
What does a medical secretary do?
Medical secretaries and administrative assistants run the administrative side of a clinic or hospital department — scheduling, records, billing and patient contact. Day to day, that means schedule appointments and manage the diary, maintain electronic health records, handle insurance verification and billing queries and answer patient calls and correspondence.
How do you become a medical secretary?
The usual route is: (1) start in general reception or clerical work, (2) learn medical terminology and EHR systems, (3) move into a medical office role, (4) progress to practice administration or medical billing. Employers typically look for high school diploma; postsecondary certificate often preferred, medical terminology knowledge and HIPAA compliance training.
Do you need a certification to work as a medical secretary?
Usually not. Most employers hire medical secretaries without a specific licence, though high school diploma; postsecondary certificate often preferred will widen your options and often your pay.
Are medical secretaries in demand?
Grows with outpatient care. Roles combining administration with billing or coding knowledge pay above general medical admin.
Where are medical secretaries most in demand?
See the metro and rural areas with the highest concentration of this work, ranked from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
Similar roles
Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Advertised ranges come from job postings on LocalWork; government figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay depends on experience, certifications, shift and employer.