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Medical Secretaries
 
Description

Medical Secretaries - Perform secretarial duties utilizing specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

O*NET code 43-6013.00

 
Wages

The national average annual salary for this occupation is $31,820 per year. Nationally, the average hourly wage for this occupation is $15.30. The average wage in New Mexico is slightly below the national average. In New Mexico, the average hourly wage is $15.02 and most workers in this occupation earn between $10.74 and $17.16 per hour.

In the table click on the "+" sign to expand/collapse areas.

New Mexico Local Wages for Medical Secretaries
AreaEntry WageAverage WageExperienced Wage
National Annual$31,820
National Hourly$15.30
Statewide Annual$22,347$31,238$35,683
Statewide Hourly$10.74$15.02$17.16
+ Metro Areas
Albuquerque Annual$26,601$33,716$37,274
Hourly $12.79$16.21$17.92
Farmington Annual$21,534$29,353$33,262
Hourly $10.35$14.11$15.99
Las Cruces Annual---
Hourly ---
Santa Fe Annual$25,018$33,520$37,771
Hourly $12.03$16.12$18.16
+ Regions
Central Annual$26,601$33,716$37,274
Hourly $12.79$16.21$17.92
Eastern Annual$17,674$24,255$27,546
Hourly $8.50$11.66$13.24
Northern Annual$22,279$31,421$35,991
Hourly $10.71$15.11$17.30
Southwestern Annual$19,301$27,661$31,841
Hourly $9.28$13.30$15.31

A dash '-' indicates that information is not available for this occupation or area.
Metro Areas refer to Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Regions refer to Workforce Investment Areas.
For more detailed information about New Mexico wages visit the Occupational Employment Statistics program website. Information displayed represents annual 2010 wages.

 
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Click on the career cluster icon to see a plan of study that will help you complete your Next Step Plan. The Career Plan of Study is a Microsoft Excel document. Many occupations will fit into several career clusters.

 
Job Growth

New Mexico

2008 to 2018

In 2008 there were about 1,500 workers in this occupation in New Mexico. The Department of Workforce Solutions estimates that by 2018 this number will have no growth by about 16 percent and an estmated 1,740 will be employed in this occupation. Compared to other occupations, employment growth in this occupation is growing more slowly than the average. Job opportunities indicate few and keen competition, as there should be about 25 openings each year for workers in this occupation.

In the Table click on the "+" sign to expand/collapse areas

New Mexico Local Needs for Medical Secretaries
AreaEstimated
Employment
2008
Projected
Employment
2018
Annual
Percent
Change
Total
Annual
Average
Openings
New Mexico1,5001,7401.53%25
+ Metro Areas
Albuquerque5206001.47%8
Farmington1401601.20%2
Las Cruces----
Santa Fe1902201.48%3
+ Regions
Central5206001.47%8
Eastern----
Northern5306401.87%11
Southwestern----

A dash '-' indicates that information is not available for this occupation or area.
Metro Areas refer to Metropolitan Statistical Areas.
Regions refer to Workforce Investment Areas.

 
Education

Medical Secretaries usually need High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate).

Education LevelPercentage
High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate)54%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)21%
Some College Courses17%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)9%

Information based on O*NET data and is the result of a national survey.

Use this list to find educational opportunities for this occupation. Contact the specific schools directly to find out application requirements and program availability.

In the table click on the "+" sign to expand/collapse areas.

New Mexico Schools with programs for Medical Secretaries
+ Brown Mackie College- Albuquerque
Website:http://www.brownmackie.edu/albuquerque/
TypeStandardized Program Title
Associate's DegreeMedical Office Assistant/Specialist (NEW)
+ Carrington College
Website:http://carrington.edu/cc/schools/
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; 1-2 yrs.Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant & Medical Secreta
+ Central New Mexico Community College
Website:http://www.cnm.edu/
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; 1-2 yrs.Medical Office Assistant/Specialist (NEW)
+ Central New Mexico Community College-Mon
Website:http://www.cnm.edu/campus/montoya/index.php
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; 1-2 yrs.Medical Office Assistant/Specialist (NEW)
+ Central New Mexico Community College-Sou
Website:http://www.cnm.edu/svc/index.php
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; 1-2 yrs.Medical Office Assistant/Specialist (NEW)
+ Central New Mexico Community College-Wes
Website:http://www.cnm.edu/campus/westside/index.php
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; 1-2 yrs.Medical Office Assistant/Specialist (NEW)
+ Central New Mexico Community College-Wo
Website:http://www.cnm.edu/campus/wtc/index.php
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; 1-2 yrs.Medical Office Assistant/Specialist (NEW)
+ Kaplen Professional/Dearborn Real Estate
Website:http://www.kaplanprofessionalschools.com/newmexico/
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; < 1 yr.Medical Insurance Specialist/Medical Biller (NEW)
+ New Mexico State University - Alamogordo
Website:http://nmsua.edu/
TypeStandardized Program Title
Associate's DegreeMedical Office Assistant/Specialist (NEW)
+ New Mexico State University- Albuquerque
Website:http://abq.nmsu.edu/
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; < 1 yr.Medical Insurance Specialist/Medical Biller (NEW)
+ NMSU - Dona Ana Community College
Website:http://dabcc.nmsu.edu/
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; < 1 yr.Medical Insurance Specialist/Medical Biller (NEW)
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; 1-2 yrs.Medical Office Assistant/Specialist (NEW)
+ Pima Medical Institute
Website:http://www.pmi.edu/
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; 1-2 yrs.Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant & Medical Secreta
+ Univerisity of New Mexico - Gallup
Website:http://www.gallup.unm.edu/
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; 1-2 yrs.Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant & Medical Secreta
+ UNM School of Continuing Education
Website:http://dce.unm.edu/
TypeStandardized Program Title
Postsec. Awards/Cert./Diplomas; < 1 yr.Medical Administrative Assistant/Secretary

This list is updated once a year and is compiled from the NM Department of Higher Education and other sources.

 
License

No New Mexico occupational license is required.

 
WorkKeys Skill Levels
Applied MathematicsApplied TechnologyListeningLocating InformationObersvationReading for InformationTeamworkWriting
30344433

For further information on WorkKeys please visit the ACT-WorkKeys website. Skill levels are provided for individuals who know thier scores.

 
Industires that Hire Medical Secretaries in New Mexico.
IndustryPercent of Employed
Ambulatory Health Care Services62.4%
Educational Services*
Hospitals26.1%
Management of Companies and Enterprises*
Nursing and Residential Care Facilities2.1%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services*
Self-Employed Workers, Primary Job1.1%
Social Assistance1.8%

* Data is confidential.

Source: NMDWS, Economic Research and Analysis Bureau

 
Common Titles
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Administrative Support Specialist
  • Assistant, Administrative, Medical
  • Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
  • Data Transcriber
  • Dental Secretary
  • Front Office Manager
  • Health Unit Coordinator
  • Hospital Unit Clerk
  • Insurance Verifier
  • Medical Administrative Specialist
  • Medical Assistant
  • Medical Biller Coder
  • Medical Biller/Coder
  • Medical Billing Coder
  • Medical Billing Specialist
  • Medical Front Desk Specialist
  • Medical Office Clerk
  • Medical Office Coordinator
  • Medical Office Receptionist
  • Medical Office Secretary
  • Medical Office Specialist
  • Medical Office Worker
  • Medical Receptionist
  • Medical Records Clerk
  • Medical Reimbursement Specialist
  • Medical Scheduler
  • Medical Secretary
  • Medical Terminologist
  • Office Manager
  • Patient Account Representative
  • Patient Coordinator
  • Patient Services Representative
  • Program Support Clerk
  • Psychiatric Secretary
  • Receptionist
  • Surgery Scheduler
  • Verification Specialist
  • Ward Secretary

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