Jobs Similar to Medical Assistants
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to medical assistants, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, Dental Assistants and Registered Nurses.
Medical Assistants: $45,690 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Medical Assistants) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 82% | $64,400+41% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Dental AssistantsSame group | 79% | $48,070+5% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Registered Nurses | 79% | $97,550+114% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Ophthalmic Medical Technologists | 79% | $50,290Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 5 | Medical Records Specialists | 77% | $51,140+12% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Pharmacy Technicians | 77% | $45,7500% | Training or associate |
| 7 | PhlebotomistsSame group | 77% | $45,230−1% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Physical Therapist Assistants | 77% | $68,380+50% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Medical TranscriptionistsSame group | 76% | $40,410−12% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 76% | $45,5700% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Physical Therapist Aides | 76% | $35,240−23% | High school |
| 12 | Occupational Therapy Aides | 75% | $39,160−14% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 75% | $45,930+1% | High school |
| 14 | Nursing Assistants | 75% | $42,260−8% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | 75% | $335,550+634% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Athletic Trainers | 75% | $62,520+37% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | 75% | $72,300+58% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Speech-Language Pathology AssistantsSame group | 74% | $48,430Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 19 | Critical Care Nurses | 74% | $97,550Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Office Clerks, General | 74% | $45,010−1% | High school |
- 1Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
82% similar · $64,400 (+41%) · Training or associate
- 2Dental Assistants
79% similar · $48,070 (+5%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3Registered Nurses
79% similar · $97,550 (+114%) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
79% similar · $50,290 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 5Medical Records Specialists
77% similar · $51,140 (+12%) · Training or associate
- 6Pharmacy Technicians
77% similar · $45,750 (0%) · Training or associate
- 7Phlebotomists
77% similar · $45,230 (−1%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 8Physical Therapist Assistants
77% similar · $68,380 (+50%) · Training or associate
- 9Medical Transcriptionists
76% similar · $40,410 (−12%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
76% similar · $45,570 (0%) · Training or associate
- 11Physical Therapist Aides
76% similar · $35,240 (−23%) · High school
- 12Occupational Therapy Aides
75% similar · $39,160 (−14%) · Training or associate
- 13Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
75% similar · $45,930 (+1%) · High school
- 14Nursing Assistants
75% similar · $42,260 (−8%) · Training or associate
- 15Emergency Medicine Physicians
75% similar · $335,550 (+634%) · Graduate degree
- 16Athletic Trainers
75% similar · $62,520 (+37%) · Graduate degree
- 17Occupational Therapy Assistants
75% similar · $72,300 (+58%) · Training or associate
- 18Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
74% similar · $48,430 (broader group) · Training or associate · Same group
- 19Critical Care Nurses
74% similar · $97,550 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Office Clerks, General
74% similar · $45,010 (−1%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than medical assistants.
- Occupational Therapy Assistants75% similar · $72,300 (+58%)
- Physical Therapist Assistants77% similar · $68,380 (+50%)
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses82% similar · $64,400 (+41%)
- Medical Records Specialists77% similar · $51,140 (+12%)
- Dental Assistants79% similar · $48,070 (+5%)
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants75% similar · $45,930 (+1%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for medical assistants also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where medical assistants is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Medical Records Specialists (87)
- Pharmacy Technicians (87)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (86)
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (86)
- Nursing Assistants (82)
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians (81)
- Coroners (80)
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (80)
- Occupational Therapy Aides (79)
- Dietetic Technicians (78)
Questions about jobs like medical assistants
What jobs are most similar to medical assistants?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (82% similar), Dental Assistants (79% similar), Registered Nurses (79% similar), Ophthalmic Medical Technologists (79% similar) and Medical Records Specialists (77% similar).
Which jobs like medical assistants pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Emergency Medicine Physicians ($335,550, +634%; usually a graduate degree), Registered Nurses ($97,550, +114%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Occupational Therapy Assistants ($72,300, +58%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with medical assistants ($45,690). Without more preparation than medical assistants usually need: Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapist Assistants and Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.