Medical Assistant Salary in South Carolina and How to increase it

The medical assistant salary in South Carolina is $38,780 yearly.

St. Andrews, Wade Hampton, and Mount Pleasant are among the cities that offer the best salaries to medical assistants in South Carolina, while Kaiser Permanente, CHOC Children’s, and Sutter Health are part of the best paying companies.

This post also provides detailed insights into employee benefits; it analyzes salary trends in related fields, and presents practical strategies for maximizing one’s salary as a medical assistant in South Carolina.

Medical Assistant Salary in South Carolina Cities

Here is salary information for medical assistants across cities in South Carolina:

	City	Salary Hourly	Salary Yearly
1.	Charleston	$16.88	$39,294
2.	Columbia	$16.77	$39,043
3.	North Charleston	$18.02	$41,946
4.	Mount Pleasant	$19.06	$44,377
5.	Rock Hill	$16.30	$37,961
6.	Greenville	$16.33	$38,022
7.	Summerville	$15.67	$36,492
8.	Goose Creek	$16.36	$38,097
9.	Hilton Head Island	$17.56	$40,873
10.	Sumter	$15.20	$35,395
11.	Florence	$14.80	$34,460
12.	Spartanburg	$17.01	$39,606
13.	Myrtle Beach	$16.40	$38,173
14.	Greer	$16.58	$38,596
15.	Aiken	$15.34	$35,721
16.	Anderson	$15.93	$37,080
17.	Socastee	$17.67	$41,142
18.	Mauldin	$15.09	$35,130
19.	Hanahan	$18.17	$42,308
20.	Conway	$16.48	$38,372
21.	Carolina Springs	$17.21	$40,071
22.	North Augusta	$13.42	$31,239
23.	Greenwood	$16.61	$38,667
24.	Simpsonville	$17.96	$41,819
25.	Bluffton	$17.05	$39,691
26.	Taylor	$17.07	$39,743
27.	Lexington	$18.66	$43,438
28.	St. Andrews	$20.04	$46,655
29.	Easley	$17.58	$40,938
30.	Wade Hampton	$19.11	$44,503

Cities with Highest Medical Assistant Salary in South Carolina

Here are top 10 paying cities for medical assistants in South Carolina:

	City	Salary Hourly	Salary Yearly
1.	St. Andrews	$20.04	$46,655
2.	Wade Hampton	$19.11	$44,503
3.	Mount Pleasant	$19.06	$44,377
4.	Lexington	$18.66	$43,438
5.	Hanahan	$18.17	$42,308
6.	North Charleston	$18.02	$41,946
7.	Simpsonville	$17.96	$41,819
8.	Socastee	$17.67	$41,142
9.	Easley	$17.58	$40,938
10.	Hilton Head Island	$17.56	$40,873

Skill-based Medical Assistant Salary in South Carolina

The medical assistant salary in South Carolina is also determined by their skill set. Several skills are particularly valuable and contribute to their pay, including:

• Dissection; +37.07%
• Clinical Trials; +12.33%
• Family Planning; +47.19%
• Epic; +9.16%
• Data Collection; +7.55%.

Experience-based Medical Assistant Salary in South Carolina

The level of experience greatly influences the salary of medical assistants in South Carolina.

Typically, medical assistants with less than one year of experience earn around $36,272 per year, while those with a decade or more of experience can earn approximately $45,741 annually in South Carolina.

10 Companies with Highest Medical Assistant Salary in South Carolina

Here are top 10 paying companies for medical assistants in South Carolina:

	Company	Hourly Salary	Annual Salary
1.	Kaiser Permanente	$26.84	$62,500
2.	CHOC Children’s	$26.27	$61,163
3.	Sutter Health	$25.78	$60,024
4.	Berman Skin Institute	$24.70	$57,515
5.	Virginia Mason Franciscan Health	$24.28	$56,532
6.	Western Washington Medical Group	$24.04	$55,976
7.	Community Health Care	$23.63	$55,016
8.	Family Health Centers of San Diego	$22.87	$53,252
9.	Scripps Health	$22.72	$52,888
10.	Dignity Health	$21.74	$50,613

10 Highest Paying Medical Assistant Jobs in South Carolina

Here are some of the top paying medical assistant jobs in South Carolina:

1. Dermatology medical assistant; $36,453
2. Obgyn medical assistant; $35,118
3. Cardiology medical assistant; $36,460
4. Medical assistant back office; $36,347
5. Medical assistant instructor; $44,505
6. Medical assistant intern; $25,532
7. Certified medical assistant; $40,134
8. Medical office assistant; $35,967
9. Medical administrative assistant; $35,690
10. Senior medical assistant; $37,905.

More Benefits for Medical Assistants in South Carolina

Employers in South Carolina provide medical assistants with various employee benefits that contribute to their overall well-being and job satisfaction. These include:

1. Health Insurance

Employers in South Carolina may offer medical assistants comprehensive health insurance coverage, ensuring access to medical, dental, and vision care for themselves and their families.

2. Retirement Plans

Medical assistants may have access to retirement plans, such as 401(k) or similar options, allowing them to save for retirement with potential employer contributions or matching.

3. Professional Development Opportunities

Employers may support medical assistants’ professional growth by offering opportunities for training, conferences, or certifications relevant to their field, fostering career advancement.

4. Paid Time Off

Employers typically provide medical assistants with paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, and holidays, enabling them to take breaks, manage personal matters, or go on vacations.

5. Employee Recognition Programs

Employers may implement recognition programs to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work and contributions of medical assistants.

These programs can include employee of the month awards, bonuses, or other forms of recognition, boosting morale and job satisfaction.

What Related Job Titles to Medical Assistant Earn in South Carolina

To gain a better understanding of the earning potential in related fields to medical assisting, here are some salary ranges:

• Patient Care Technician; $42,477
• Medical Scribe; $30,439
• Care Coordinator; $34,064
• Medical Receptionist; $35,496.

Medical Assistant Salary and Job Outlook in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants in South Carolina can expect a highly favorable job outlook, with a projected growth rate of 30.84%.

In 2016, the number of individuals employed in this field was 9,370, and it is expected to rise to 12,260 by 2026.

Annually, there will be approximately 1,430 job openings for those pursuing a career as a medical assistant in South Carolina.

How to increase your Pay as a Medical Assistant in South Carolina

Here are some practical tips to maximize your earning potential and improve your overall salary as a medical assistant in South Carolina:

1. Gain Experience in Specialized Areas

Developing expertise in specialized areas of healthcare, such as pediatrics, cardiology, or dermatology, can make medical assistants more valuable to employers and potentially lead to higher salary offers.

2. Seek Employment in High-Demand Areas

Research and target high-demand regions or healthcare facilities in South Carolina, such as urban centers or hospitals, where the demand for medical assistants may be higher, resulting in potentially better salary prospects.

3. Network and Expand Professional Connections

Actively networking with professionals in the healthcare industry, attending career fairs, and participating in industry events can help medical assistants discover new job opportunities and negotiate competitive salary packages.

4. Stay Current with Industry Certifications

Medical assistants can stay up to date with industry-recognized certifications, such as Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), which can enhance their qualifications and potentially lead to higher salary offers.

More Career Opportunities for Medical Assistants in South Carolina

Here are more career opportunities you can explore with a medical assisting background in South Carolina:

1. Healthcare Management

Individuals can explore careers in healthcare management, overseeing the operations of healthcare facilities, managing budgets, and ensuring efficient delivery of healthcare services.

2. Radiologic Technology

Those interested in medical imaging can consider becoming radiologic technologists, operating imaging equipment to produce diagnostic images under the guidance of physicians.

3. Physician Assistant

Individuals can pursue a career as a physician assistant, working alongside physicians to provide medical care, diagnose illnesses, and prescribe medications.

Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety: Individuals can focus on improving healthcare quality and patient safety by working in roles such as quality improvement specialists or patient safety officers.

Conclusion

The salary of medical assistants in South Carolina can vary based on factors such as experience, location, and employer.

To increase their earning potential, medical assistants in South Carolina can explore opportunities in related fields such as nursing, healthcare information technology, or healthcare management.

Gaining experience in specialized areas, seeking employment in high-demand regions or healthcare facilities, and networking to expand professional connections can contribute to improved qualifications, and potentially lead to higher salaries for the medical assistant position in South Carolina.

Additionally, staying current with industry certifications and informed about market trends can help medical assistants negotiate competitive salary packages and achieve financial growth in their careers within South Carolina.

Information sources: indeed.com, salary.com, and bls.gov.