Medical Assistant vs. Certified Nursing Assistant
Understand the Distinction in Roles, Responsibilities, Educational Requirements, Certifications, Salary, and Job Outlook
Medical Assistants (MAs) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) frequently collaborate in healthcare environments to deliver the highest-quality care possible to their patients. While both MAs and CNAs provide invaluable support to their medical team, they perform distinct roles and have their own unique job responsibilities, daily tasks, job outlooks, and earning potential.
If you’re considering a career as an MA or CNA and desire more information regarding these professions, continue reading to learn about the key differences between these vital roles.
Click here to read our comprehensive guide on how to become a Medical Assistant.
Medical Assistant vs. Certified Nursing Assistant: Definition
What is a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistants are responsible for a wide variety of tasks that ensure medical offices, clinics, and laboratories operate at peak performance. While their duties vary by location and practice, some Medical Assistants also coordinate prescriptions, prepare lab specimens, sterilize medical instruments, and prepare patients for X-rays. MAs are often considered to be a jack-of-all-trades, ensuring the overall efficiency of the clinic. In addition to their administrative and clinical duties, they may also be the first person to greet you and discuss your medical history.
What is a Certified Nursing Assistant?
Certified Nursing Assistants provide patients with personal care and help them perform regular day-to-day activities, such as bathing, dressing, and eating. Most CNAs work in hospitals or nursing and residential care facilities. Because their job requires physical activity, they should be able to assist with lifting or moving patients. Additional responsibilities may include administering treatment, such as measuring vital sign-blood pressure, temperature, and respiratory rates.
Medical Assistant vs. Certified Nursing Assistant: Job Description
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Alongside fulfilling administrative and clinical responsibilities, Medical Assistants also assist physicians, nurses, and other healthcare team members with various tasks. These can range from scheduling appointments to assisting physicians during exams and measuring vital signs.
What Does a Certified Nursing Assistant Do?
Certified Nursing Assistants deliver fundamental care and assist patients in performing daily tasks. Additionally, CNAs play a crucial role within a patient’s healthcare team—and are frequently tasked with monitoring a patient’s vital signs.
Medical Assistant vs. Certified Nursing Assistant: Duties
Medical Assistant Responsibilities
Some of the most common day-to-day clinical responsibilities of an MA include:
- Assisting physicians with patient examinations and procedures
- Measuring vital signs (i.e., blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, etc.)
- Giving patients injections or medications as directed by physicians and as permitted by state law
- Drawing blood and preparing blood samples for lab tests
- Starting IVs (restrictions vary by state)
- Collecting urine and stool samples
- Cleaning patient rooms and sterilizing equipment
An MA’s administrative duties may include:
- Recording patient history as well as personal information
- Entering patient information into their medical records
- Answering phone calls, scheduling patients’ appointments, and coordinating referrals
- Dealing with billing and insurance (i.e., collecting payments and providing reminders)
Certified Nursing Assistant Responsibilities
Some of the most common day-to-day clinical responsibilities of a CNA include:
- Assisting with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as patient bathing, dressing, eating, and using the toilet
- Providing mobility support such as turning, repositioning, and transferring patients between beds and wheelchairs
- Listening to and recording patients’ health concerns and reporting that information to nurses
- Measuring patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respiration rates
- Serving meals and assisting patients who have difficulty eating
- Dispensing medication (depending on location and training)
- Monitoring patients for any changes in condition and reporting observations to nurses
- Assisting with basic wound care, such as simple dressing changes
Where Do Medical Assistants Work?
Medical Assistants can find employment in several different medical facilities. These include, but are not limited to, physicians’ offices, private healthcare facilities, hospitals, laboratories, health industry providers, and independent clinics.
Where Do Certified Nursing Assistants Work?
Certified Nursing Assistants usually work in nursing care facilities, hospitals, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living facilities for the elderly, home healthcare services, hospice care, government settings, and more.
Medical Assistant vs. Certified Nursing Assistant
Educational Requirements for Medical Assistants
Medical Assistants usually graduate from post-secondary education programs. Common pathways may include completing a certificate program at a vocational school, community college, or technical school, and/or earning an associate’s degree. While most states do not have formal educational requirements for becoming an MA, employers may prefer to hire candidates who have completed these programs.
Educational Requirements for Certified Nursing Assistants
Certified Nursing Assistants must complete a state-approved training program (typically 75 hours) and pass a competency exam. Only then can a Certified Nursing Assistant receive the “CNA” designation. General eligibility requirements also include obtaining a high school diploma or GED, passing a criminal background check, and completing a health screening.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Medical Assistant?
Earning your MA diploma will typically require a year or less of your time. For instance, you can complete the Medical Assisting program at Unitek College in as little as 9 months.
Our Medical Assistant program emphasizes administrative and clinical skills. Your MA courses include dynamic instruction in medical terminology, medical office procedures, medical and clinical procedures, basic anatomy and physiology, and more.
As you research potential schools for your educational needs, remember to consider their admissions requirements, program curricula, financial costs, and program lengths.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant?
To become a Certified Nursing Assistant, you must complete a state-approved education program that teaches nursing principles and provides you with the opportunity to gain clinical experience. These programs vary by state and usually take about 4 to 12 weeks to complete. They are often available in high schools, community colleges, vocational and technical schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.
In addition, CNAs typically complete on-the-job training to learn about their employer’s policies, procedures, and other practices.
Medical Assistant vs. Certified Nursing Assistant: Salary
How Much Do Medical Assistants Make?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average hourly wage* for a Medical Assistant is approximately $21.50, and their average salary* is around $44,720. However, MAs with a top-tier wage* (the top 10%) can earn more than $57,830 per year, according to BLS data from May 2024.
Highest Paying Industries for Medical Assistants
According to the BLS, as of May 2023, the following industries offer the highest wages and salaries* to Medical Assistants:
| Industry | Average Hourly Pay | Average Salary |
| Scientific Research & Development Services | $26.51 | $55,130 |
| Junior Colleges | $25.91 | $53,890 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $23.60 | $49,090 |
| Grantmaking & Giving Services | $24.51 | $50,990 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $24.16 | $50,250 |
Highest Paying States for Medical Assistants
As of May 2023, Medical Assistants earn the highest average wages* in the following states:
| State | Average Hourly Pay | Average Salary |
| Washington | $25.86 | $53,780 |
| Alaska | $25.25 | $52,530 |
| California | $24.47 | $50,900 |
| District of Columbia | $24.09 | $50,110 |
| Minnesota | $23.91 | $49,740 |
Highest Paying Cities for Medical Assistants
As of May 2023, Medical Assistants earn the highest average wages* in the following cities:
| City | Average Hourly Pay | Average Salary |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | $32.02 | $66,590 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $29.89 | $62,160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $28.93 | $60,180 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA | $28.70 | $59,690 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $28.23 | $58,720 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $27.92 | $58,070 |
How Much Do Certified Nursing Assistants Make?
According to the BLS, the average hourly wage* for a Certified Nursing Assistant is approximately $19.84, and their annual average salary* is around $41,270. However, CNAs with a top-tier wage* (the top 10%) can earn more than $50,140 per year, according to BLS data from May 2024.
Highest Paying Industries for Certified Nursing Assistants
According to the BLS, as of May 2023, these industries are where you’re most likely to find the top-paying jobs* for Certified Nursing Assistants:
| Industry | Average Hourly Pay | Average Salary |
| Offices of Dentists | $27.62 | $57,450 |
| Junior Colleges | $26.35 | $54,820 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government | $23.36 | $45,580 |
| Scientific Research & Development Services | $23.31 | $48,490 |
| Technical & Trade Schools | $22.52 | $46,850 |
Highest Paying States for Certified Nursing Assistants
As reported by the BLS, as of May 2023, CNAs earn the highest average wages* in these states:
| State | Average Hourly Pay | Average Salary |
| District of Columbia | $23.01 | $47,860 |
| Alaska | $22.63 | $47,080 |
| California | $22.63 | $47,070 |
| Oregon | $22.58 | $46,970 |
| Washington | $22.32 | $46,430 |
Highest Paying Cities for Certified Nursing Assistants
The BLS has reported that as of May 2023, CNAs earn the highest annual wages* in the following cities:
| City | Average Hourly Pay | Average Salary |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $27.18 | $56,530 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $26.72 | $55,580 |
| Salem, OR | $23.63 | $49,140 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $23.23 | $48,320 |
| Salinas, CA | $22.96 | $47,750 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $22.83 | $47,480 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA | $22.82 | $47,460 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $22.81 | $47,450 |
| Napa, CA | $22.70 | $47,210 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | $22.70 | $47,210 |
Medical Assistant vs. Certified Nursing Assistant: Job Outlook
Medical Assistant Job Outlook
The 2025 job outlook for Medical Assistants is very strong, as the demand for skilled MAs is increasing rapidly—alongside a surge in the healthcare industry. This growth is fueled by an aging demographic, greater access to healthcare, and the expansion of outpatient and telemedicine services.
According to the BLS, as of August 2025, the overall employment of MAs is projected to increase significantly by 12% between 2024 and 2034! This rate of growth is faster than the average rate for all occupations (3%), signifying a heavy demand for these professionals.
Certified Nursing Assistant Job Outlook
The job market for Certified Nurse Assistants in 2025 is equally robust, as CNAs are highly sought after—driven by the aging Baby Boomer population and increased turnover rates.
The BLS projects that as of August 2025, overall employment of CNAs will grow by 2% percent through 2034.
Why Is a Certified Nursing Assistant a Great Alternative Career Path for Medical Assistants?
CNA programs are often a faster entry into healthcare than MA programs. They also provide a more direct path to nursing and serve as a foundation for those wanting to become a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Registered Nurse (RN).
Additionally, Certified Nursing Assistants focus on hands-on care and can make a difference in the lives of their patients. They also often encounter great networking opportunities, varied experiences, and have access to a myriad of healthcare professionals.
Advance Your Career by Seeking a Medical Assistant Diploma
Obtaining a Medical Assistant diploma allows you to gain vital experience and embark on your career journey in healthcare. For some MAs, their education can help them pursue a career as a Licensed Vocational Nurse or a Registered Nurse. While many enjoy careers as Medical Assistants, others use their experience to gain admission to nursing school.
If you’re ready to take the next step, start by earning your Medical Assistant diploma in as little as 9 months at Unitek College.
Click here to learn more about our Medical Assistant program.
*Please note that wage data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or other third-party sources may not be an accurate reflection of all areas of the country, may not account for the employees’ years of experience, and may not reflect the wages or outlook of entry-level employees, such as graduates of our program.
