Medical Assistant Jobs in Jacksonville, FL
Medical assistants in Jacksonville typically earn about $18 to $22.50 an hour, and Baptist Health primary care offices offer sign-on bonuses of up to $1,000. The work is spread across clinics from Oakleaf to the Beaches and the JTB medical belt. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get certified.
Current medical assistant Openings in Jacksonville, FL
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Assistant Work in Jacksonville
Most medical assistant jobs in Jacksonville sit in outpatient clinics rather than hospital wards. Baptist Health runs a large network of primary care and specialty offices, from Oakleaf on the Westside to Baymeadows on the Southside and Baptist Clay in Fleming Island. Mayo Clinic Florida hires MAs for its hematology and oncology clinics on San Pablo Road near JTB, and specialty groups such as the Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute staff offices in San Marco and at the Beaches.
Behavioral health and specialty practices along the Southpoint and Deerwood office parks add more openings, and many MAs commute from Clay and St. Johns counties. Unlike some states, Florida does not license medical assistants, so local employers lean on national certification and BLS to sort applicants.
Top Jacksonville Employers Hiring Medical Assistants
These Jacksonville employers hire medical assistants for primary care and specialty clinics:
- Baptist Health - the locally owned system hires MAs for primary care and orthopedic offices across the metro, with sign-on bonuses of up to $1,000.
- Mayo Clinic - the San Pablo Road campus posts medical assistant roles in clinics such as hematology and oncology, Monday to Friday days.
- Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute - the orthopedic group recruits certified and registered medical assistants for its JOI MD clinics.
- Optum - its MedPsych Systems practice hires on-site medical assistants for behavioral health care at its Southpoint Parkway office.
Medical Assistant Salaries in Jacksonville
- Entry level: about $18 to $19.50 an hour for new graduates and newly certified MAs.
- Experienced: roughly $19.50 to $22.50 an hour with a few years in a clinic.
- Senior: about $22.50 to $24 an hour for lead MAs and specialty clinic roles.
These are estimates based on federal wage data for the Jacksonville metro and local postings, such as an Optum range of $16 to $28.85 an hour. Certification, specialty experience, phlebotomy and injection skills, and bilingual Spanish push pay up, while Florida's $15 minimum wage is the floor, not the going rate.
How to Become a Medical Assistant in Jacksonville
Florida does not license medical assistants. Under Florida law they work under the direct supervision of a licensed physician, and certification is optional but needed to use the "certified medical assistant" title. Jacksonville employers usually want a diploma from an MA program or a national credential such as the CMA, RMA or CCMA, plus American Heart Association BLS. FSCJ's Medical Assisting career certificate is a 1,300-hour, limited-access program at the Deerwood Center on the Southside, with a clinical practicum in local offices, and graduates can sit for the RMA exam.
What the Job Involves
Medical assistants keep a clinic moving. A typical day includes rooming patients, taking vital signs and histories, preparing exam rooms, assisting with exams and procedures, drawing blood and giving injections as the physician directs, collecting specimens, updating the electronic record, and handling scheduling, referrals and phone calls.
Skills Employers Look For
- CMA, RMA or CCMA certification, or an MA program diploma
- Current BLS from the American Heart Association
- Vital signs, injections and phlebotomy
- Electronic medical record experience
- Clear, calm communication with patients
- Bilingual Spanish, which some Jacksonville postings prefer
Career Path and Advancement
Jacksonville MAs often move from primary care into a specialty clinic, then into lead MA or float pool roles that cover several offices. Many use the job as a step into nursing, through FSCJ's Practical Nursing certificate or its RN program, or into front office and practice management roles. The large systems on the Southbank and along JTB give room to move without changing employers.
Related Careers in Jacksonville
If medical assisting interests you, these Jacksonville healthcare roles are close matches:
- Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs
- Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs
- Registered Nurse Jobs
- Healthcare Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do medical assistants need a license in Florida?
No. Florida has no medical assistant license, and MAs work under a licensed physician's direct supervision. Certification is voluntary under state law, but many Jacksonville employers require or prefer it.
How much do medical assistants make in Jacksonville?
Most Jacksonville MAs earn about $18 to $22.50 an hour, with lead and specialty roles reaching $24 or more. Some postings run wider, and sign-on bonuses of up to $1,000 appear on Baptist Health primary care jobs.
Which certification do Jacksonville employers accept?
Mayo Clinic postings accept the CMA, RMA or CCMA, and Baptist Health accepts certification from any credentialing body. A diploma from an MA program can stand in for certification at some employers.
How long does it take to become a medical assistant in Jacksonville?
FSCJ's Medical Assisting certificate is 1,300 clock hours, including a clinical practicum. Some employers hire on experience instead; Optum's Jacksonville posting asks for medical office experience and prefers certification or the ability to earn it within 90 days.
What hours do medical assistants work in Jacksonville?
Most MA jobs are clinic hours, Monday through Friday, roughly 8am to 5pm. Specialty and urgent care offices may add early starts, evenings or weekends.
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