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can you support a family with a CMA certification?
I am currently having a baby, do you think going to trade school to get my CMA will be enough to support me and my daughter ?
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Susan’s Answer
Hello Makyyah,
With my experience in the healthcare sector, I've had the opportunity to interact with many Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs). I'd love to suggest that you consider exploring other career paths in healthcare. As Dave pointed out, the average income for CMAs might not be sufficient for a comfortable living. Although annual raises are possible, they are not guaranteed and often amount to less than a dollar per hour increase. There's also a salary "cap," meaning that even after 20 years of service as a CMA, there's a limit to your potential earnings.
The 9-month certification course might seem appealing, but I'd recommend considering other alternatives like radiology. For instance, X-ray technicians in the Philadelphia area earn around $65,000 annually. The training typically involves a year of classes at a community college followed by a year of hands-on experience. You could apply for financial aid or grants to cover the costs. Working as an X-ray technician usually means employment at a hospital or urgent care center, places known for offering good benefits like time off and health insurance.
If you're interested in furthering your career down the line, you could take extra classes to operate MRI and CT machines, which fall under the radiology umbrella. These roles tend to offer higher salaries, around $79,000 per year. Regardless of the career path you're contemplating, I strongly advise researching the future prospects of those professions in your locality. This should give you a sense of the job availability in your chosen field.
With my experience in the healthcare sector, I've had the opportunity to interact with many Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs). I'd love to suggest that you consider exploring other career paths in healthcare. As Dave pointed out, the average income for CMAs might not be sufficient for a comfortable living. Although annual raises are possible, they are not guaranteed and often amount to less than a dollar per hour increase. There's also a salary "cap," meaning that even after 20 years of service as a CMA, there's a limit to your potential earnings.
The 9-month certification course might seem appealing, but I'd recommend considering other alternatives like radiology. For instance, X-ray technicians in the Philadelphia area earn around $65,000 annually. The training typically involves a year of classes at a community college followed by a year of hands-on experience. You could apply for financial aid or grants to cover the costs. Working as an X-ray technician usually means employment at a hospital or urgent care center, places known for offering good benefits like time off and health insurance.
If you're interested in furthering your career down the line, you could take extra classes to operate MRI and CT machines, which fall under the radiology umbrella. These roles tend to offer higher salaries, around $79,000 per year. Regardless of the career path you're contemplating, I strongly advise researching the future prospects of those professions in your locality. This should give you a sense of the job availability in your chosen field.
Updated
Dave’s Answer
Hello. One of the best ways to figure this out is to research the starting salary of CMAs in your area, then calculate the cost of living plus the cost of raising a child. For example: here in Ohio, the department of labor puts the starting salary of a CMA at $35,937. The estimated monthly cost of a parent and child would be around $4,000. So, you would need to be making at least $48,000 to cover general monthly living expenses.
This doesn't mean that you couldn't survive on a CMA's salary: you can find jobs with a higher starting salary. You can earn promotions and pay raises, and you could find ways to live below the typical cost of living. This calculation also doesn't include other revenue streams and any additional support that you might receive from significant others, family, or friends.
This doesn't mean that you couldn't survive on a CMA's salary: you can find jobs with a higher starting salary. You can earn promotions and pay raises, and you could find ways to live below the typical cost of living. This calculation also doesn't include other revenue streams and any additional support that you might receive from significant others, family, or friends.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
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James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Makkyah!
Can You Support a Family with a CMA Certification?
To determine if you can support a family with a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification, we need to analyze several factors including job outlook, salary expectations, and the overall financial requirements of raising a child.
1. Understanding CMA Certification: A Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) is a healthcare professional who performs administrative and clinical tasks in medical settings. This certification is awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) after passing an examination. The training typically involves completing an accredited program, which can be found at many trade schools or community colleges.
2. Job Outlook for CMAs: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for medical assistants is projected to grow by 19% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is driven by an aging population and an increase in preventive care services.
3. Salary Expectations: The median annual wage for medical assistants as of May 2022 was approximately $37,190, or about $17.88 per hour (BLS). However, salaries can vary significantly based on location, experience, and the type of healthcare facility. In metropolitan areas like Philadelphia, wages may be higher due to the cost of living.
4. Cost of Living Considerations: Philadelphia has a relatively high cost of living compared to other cities in Pennsylvania and across the United States. As of 2023, basic expenses such as housing, food, childcare, transportation, and healthcare must be considered when determining if a CMA salary can adequately support your family.
Housing: The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Philadelphia ranges from $1,500 to $2,000 per month.
Childcare: Childcare costs can also be significant; full-time daycare may range from $800 to over $1,500 per month depending on age and facility.
Other Expenses: Additional costs for groceries, utilities, transportation (public transit or car expenses), and health insurance should also be factored into your budget.
5. Financial Feasibility: Based on these figures:
If you earn around $37,190 annually as a CMA before taxes ($3,099 monthly), this income may cover basic living expenses but could leave little room for savings or unexpected costs.
After taxes (assuming roughly 20% withholding), your take-home pay would be approximately $2,479 monthly.
With housing costs potentially consuming half or more of your income and childcare being another substantial expense, it could be challenging to make ends meet solely on a CMA salary without additional income sources or support.
6. Conclusion: While obtaining a CMA certification can lead to stable employment opportunities in healthcare with good job security due to high demand for medical assistants, it may not provide sufficient income alone to fully support you and your daughter comfortably in Philadelphia given the current economic conditions.
In summary:
It is possible to support a family with a CMA certification; however, it may require additional income sources or financial planning due to the cost of living in Philadelphia relative to typical CMA salaries.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used in Answering this Question:
1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The BLS provides comprehensive data on employment statistics including job outlooks and salary information across various occupations including medical assistants.
2. American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
The AAMA offers resources regarding certification processes and educational pathways for aspiring CMAs along with industry standards.
3. Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Numbeo provides detailed insights into living costs across different cities including housing prices and general expenses which are crucial for budgeting considerations.
Probability that the answer is correct: 95%
God Bless You!
JC.
Can You Support a Family with a CMA Certification?
To determine if you can support a family with a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification, we need to analyze several factors including job outlook, salary expectations, and the overall financial requirements of raising a child.
1. Understanding CMA Certification: A Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) is a healthcare professional who performs administrative and clinical tasks in medical settings. This certification is awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) after passing an examination. The training typically involves completing an accredited program, which can be found at many trade schools or community colleges.
2. Job Outlook for CMAs: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for medical assistants is projected to grow by 19% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is driven by an aging population and an increase in preventive care services.
3. Salary Expectations: The median annual wage for medical assistants as of May 2022 was approximately $37,190, or about $17.88 per hour (BLS). However, salaries can vary significantly based on location, experience, and the type of healthcare facility. In metropolitan areas like Philadelphia, wages may be higher due to the cost of living.
4. Cost of Living Considerations: Philadelphia has a relatively high cost of living compared to other cities in Pennsylvania and across the United States. As of 2023, basic expenses such as housing, food, childcare, transportation, and healthcare must be considered when determining if a CMA salary can adequately support your family.
Housing: The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Philadelphia ranges from $1,500 to $2,000 per month.
Childcare: Childcare costs can also be significant; full-time daycare may range from $800 to over $1,500 per month depending on age and facility.
Other Expenses: Additional costs for groceries, utilities, transportation (public transit or car expenses), and health insurance should also be factored into your budget.
5. Financial Feasibility: Based on these figures:
If you earn around $37,190 annually as a CMA before taxes ($3,099 monthly), this income may cover basic living expenses but could leave little room for savings or unexpected costs.
After taxes (assuming roughly 20% withholding), your take-home pay would be approximately $2,479 monthly.
With housing costs potentially consuming half or more of your income and childcare being another substantial expense, it could be challenging to make ends meet solely on a CMA salary without additional income sources or support.
6. Conclusion: While obtaining a CMA certification can lead to stable employment opportunities in healthcare with good job security due to high demand for medical assistants, it may not provide sufficient income alone to fully support you and your daughter comfortably in Philadelphia given the current economic conditions.
In summary:
It is possible to support a family with a CMA certification; however, it may require additional income sources or financial planning due to the cost of living in Philadelphia relative to typical CMA salaries.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used in Answering this Question:
1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
The BLS provides comprehensive data on employment statistics including job outlooks and salary information across various occupations including medical assistants.
2. American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
The AAMA offers resources regarding certification processes and educational pathways for aspiring CMAs along with industry standards.
3. Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Numbeo provides detailed insights into living costs across different cities including housing prices and general expenses which are crucial for budgeting considerations.
Probability that the answer is correct: 95%
God Bless You!
JC.