Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Also called: Medical Receptionist, Medical Secretary, Unit Clerk, Unit Support RepresentativePerform 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 13 of its 15 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 4.8% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 2.7% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.0 hires for every 10 job openings in health care and social assistance, which employs about 92% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.0 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,930 | $33,800 to $44,990 | 16,580 |
| Alaska | $47,870 | $43,800 to $54,730 | 2,520 |
| Arizona | $45,820 | $39,090 to $51,260 | 18,090 |
| Arkansas | $37,000 | $34,880 to $42,400 | 2,190 |
| California | $54,490 | $46,590 to $63,330 | 115,050 |
| Colorado | $46,920 | $41,190 to $50,660 | 11,560 |
| Connecticut | $48,500 | $46,380 to $57,760 | 6,480 |
| Delaware | $44,500 | $38,640 to $47,710 | 4,510 |
| District of Columbia | $49,180 | $46,920 to $58,170 | 1,930 |
| Florida | $41,730 | $37,570 to $47,300 | 96,000 |
| Georgia | $43,160 | $36,910 to $47,780 | 39,380 |
| Guam | $31,680 | $27,400 to $36,760 | 310 |
| Hawaii | $49,920 | $45,790 to $55,420 | 2,160 |
| Idaho | $44,920 | $37,890 to $48,440 | 5,120 |
| Illinois | $46,670 | $40,320 to $50,170 | 27,560 |
| Indiana | $44,060 | $38,040 to $47,190 | 21,180 |
| Iowa | $40,980 | $37,560 to $46,980 | 10,560 |
| Kansas | $43,020 | $37,870 to $46,810 | 6,470 |
| Kentucky | $38,750 | $35,940 to $45,950 | 26,430 |
| Louisiana | $36,930 | $34,270 to $44,330 | 2,970 |
| Maine | $46,990 | $43,940 to $49,970 | 4,610 |
| Maryland | $47,850 | $43,350 to $55,580 | 17,290 |
| Massachusetts | $50,290 | $47,480 to $58,910 | 22,210 |
| Michigan | $41,100 | $37,950 to $46,990 | 27,960 |
| Minnesota | $50,030 | $48,100 to $59,290 | 16,860 |
| Mississippi | $36,290 | $31,250 to $43,090 | not published |
| Missouri | $43,980 | $37,440 to $48,440 | 12,260 |
| Montana | $43,740 | $38,580 to $47,350 | 4,410 |
| Nebraska | $46,100 | $40,930 to $48,940 | 4,110 |
| Nevada | $46,990 | $39,900 to $49,010 | 7,030 |
| New Hampshire | $48,410 | $45,020 to $53,470 | 3,680 |
| New Jersey | $48,660 | $44,080 to $57,400 | 20,980 |
| New Mexico | $44,230 | $38,570 to $49,150 | 4,590 |
| New York | $47,710 | $44,160 to $56,310 | 57,720 |
| North Carolina | $44,190 | $37,930 to $47,440 | 56,840 |
| North Dakota | $45,390 | $39,430 to $50,210 | 1,120 |
| Ohio | $44,280 | $38,700 to $47,980 | 29,110 |
| Oklahoma | $38,330 | $35,550 to $45,900 | 8,430 |
| Oregon | $50,130 | $46,510 to $59,370 | 16,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,930 | $39,520 to $49,030 | 27,600 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,620 | $22,670 to $39,520 | 8,480 |
| Rhode Island | $46,860 | $45,730 to $55,690 | 2,350 |
| South Carolina | $40,170 | $36,940 to $46,690 | 15,630 |
| South Dakota | $45,810 | $43,970 to $47,890 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $39,940 | $36,320 to $46,730 | 41,810 |
| Texas | $42,910 | $37,170 to $47,850 | 78,740 |
| Utah | $44,330 | $37,390 to $49,150 | 5,260 |
| Vermont | $48,200 | $45,160 to $57,370 | 2,390 |
| Virgin Islands | $36,710 | $31,750 to $42,840 | 230 |
| Virginia | $46,180 | $39,500 to $48,720 | 27,600 |
| Washington | $58,100 | $48,510 to $62,840 | 10,960 |
| West Virginia | $38,430 | $36,160 to $46,260 | 1,550 |
| Wisconsin | $48,380 | $46,490 to $51,900 | 7,760 |
| Wyoming | $44,430 | $38,200 to $49,250 | 1,110 |
Nationally: $45,930. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 13 of its 15 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI alone | Answer telephones and direct calls to appropriate staff. | Not published |
| AI + software | Schedule and confirm patient diagnostic appointments, surgeries, or medical consultations. | Not published |
| AI alone | Transmit correspondence or medical records by mail, e-mail, or fax. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Operate office equipment, such as voice mail messaging systems, and use word processing, spreadsheet, or other software applications to prepare reports, invoices, financial statements, letters, case histories, or medical records. | Not published |
| AI + software | Receive and route messages or documents, such as laboratory results, to appropriate staff. | Not published |
| Not much | Greet visitors, ascertain purpose of visit, and direct them to appropriate staff. | Not published |
See all 15 tasks
| AI alone | Perform bookkeeping duties, such as credits or collections, preparing and sending financial statements or bills, and keeping financial records. | Not published |
| AI + software | Interview patients to complete documents, case histories, or forms, such as intake or insurance forms. | Not published |
| AI alone | Complete insurance or other claim forms. | Not published |
| AI + software | Maintain medical records, technical library, or correspondence files. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Compile and record medical charts, reports, or correspondence, using typewriter or personal computer. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Schedule tests or procedures for patients, such as lab work or x-rays, based on physician orders. | Not published |
| Not much | Perform various clerical or administrative functions, such as ordering and maintaining an inventory of supplies. | Not published |
| AI + software | Transcribe recorded messages or practitioners' diagnoses or recommendations into patients' medical records. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Prepare correspondence or assist physicians or medical scientists with preparation of reports, speeches, articles, or conference proceedings. | under 0.01% |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 5 of the 15 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 15 tasks fall under 17 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #11 Provide information to guests, clients, or customers
- #13 Operate computer systems or computerized equipment
- #19 Provide general assistance to others, such as customers, patrons, or motorists
- and 4 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintain health or medical records | |||
| Schedule appointments | |||
| Process shipments or mail | |||
| Provide information to guests, clients, or customers | |||
| Operate computer systems or computerized equipment | |||
| Provide general assistance to others, such as customers, patrons, or motorists | |||
| Assist others to access additional services or resources | |||
| Perform administrative or clerical activities |
Show all 17 activities
| Compile records, documentation, or other data | |||
| Purchase goods or services | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits | |||
| Operate office equipment | |||
| Interview people to obtain information | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Maintain sales or financial records | |||
| Collect fares or payments |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report34%
- An analysis or summary14%
- An email or message13%
- Data or a spreadsheet9%
- A translation6%
How they worked with Claude
54% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for medical secretaries and administrative assistants specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 176,065 moves out
- 1 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 9%
- 2 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 6%
- 3 First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Very high +0.1% 3%
- 4 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 3%
- 5 Medical and Health Services Managers High +24.2% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 152,620 moves in
- 1 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 9%
- 2 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 7%
- 3 Medical Assistants Moderate +12.9% 4%
- 4 Nursing Assistants Low +2.6% 4%
- 5 Receptionists and Information Clerks Very high -1.7% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 5% less than high school
- 48% high school
- 20% postsecondary certificate
- 1% some college
- 26% associate's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 26 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 22% high school
- 38% some college
- 17% associate's
- 18% bachelor's
- 4% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 953 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
7 programs, such as Veterinary Administrative Services, General, Veterinary Administrative/Executive Assistant and Veterinary Secretary and Medical Office Assistant/Specialist.
See all
- Veterinary Administrative Services, General
- Veterinary Administrative/Executive Assistant and Veterinary Secretary
- Medical Office Assistant/Specialist
- Medical/Health Management and Clinical Assistant/Specialist
- Medical Reception/Receptionist
- Medical Insurance Specialist/Medical Biller
- Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
8.5% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a certification | 1.2% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | 1.0% | 2.8% |
| a license | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (MEDICAL SECRETARY). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/43-6013.00