Medical Assistant Jobs in Columbus, OH
Medical assistants in Columbus earn a median of $21.22 an hour, and most of the work is in outpatient clinics run by Ohio State, OhioHealth, Nationwide Children's and Optum, from the OSU campus out to Westerville and Hilliard. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get certified.
Current medical assistant Openings in Columbus, OH
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Assistant Work in Columbus
Columbus medical assistants work mostly on the outpatient side of the four big health systems and the large physician groups. Ohio State Wexner Medical Center staffs specialty clinics along West 10th Avenue on the medical campus, Nationwide Children's runs neighborhood primary care centers such as its Near East Health Center plus specialty clinics as far out as Westerville, and Optum's American Health Network practices sit in suburbs like Westerville and Hilliard along the Outerbelt.
Demand is steady enough that OhioHealth listed medical assistants among the roles at its October 8, 2026 Career Connection Expo, alongside nurses, lab techs and surgical technologists. Pediatric and specialty clinics tend to ask for national certification within your first year, while entry clinic roles will often take a training program graduate or a year of experience.
Top Columbus Employers Hiring Medical Assistants
These Columbus-area employers hire medical assistants for primary care and specialty clinics:
- Ohio State Wexner Medical Center - hires medical assistants and lead CMAs for neurology, OB-GYN, ambulatory care and other clinics on and around the OSU medical campus.
- Nationwide Children's Hospital - posts medical assistant jobs at its Near East Health Center, South High Med-Peds clinic, pulmonary clinic and outpatient psychiatry in Westerville, with posted starting pay around $19.75 to $20 an hour.
- OhioHealth - names medical assistants among its patient care support staff across its Columbus hospitals and physician practices.
- Optum (American Health Network) - hires primary care medical assistants in Westerville and Hilliard, with a posted range of $16 to $28.85 an hour and a sign-on bonus for outside hires.
Medical Assistant Salaries in Columbus
- Entry level: about $18 to $20 an hour for new graduates and assistants in their first year.
- Experienced: roughly $21 to $23 an hour for certified MAs with a few years in a clinic.
- Senior: $24 to $28 an hour or more for lead MAs and specialty clinic roles.
These are estimates based on BLS May 2025 wage data for the Columbus metro, where medical assistants earn from about $18.18 at the 10th percentile to $24.01 at the 90th, and on ranges posted by local employers. National certification, specialty clinics, lead duties and years with one system move pay the most.
How to Become a Medical Assistant in Columbus
Ohio does not license medical assistants. Physicians may delegate routine tasks to unlicensed staff under State Medical Board of Ohio rules, which require on-site physician supervision, so employers set the bar through training and national certification. Columbus State Community College runs a CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting Technology certificate, with an Associate of Applied Science option, at its Columbus Campus on East Spring Street and its Delaware Campus on Cornerstone Drive; certificate graduates can sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam. Local employers commonly accept the CMA, RMA, CCMA or NCMA, and several require one within 9 to 12 months of hire.
What the Job Involves
Medical assistants room patients, take vital signs and histories, update the electronic record, give injections and vaccines under the provider's orders, collect specimens, set up exam rooms and assist with procedures, and handle referrals, prior authorizations and patient phone calls. In pediatric clinics you will also do growth measurements and help kids and parents through visits.
Skills Employers Look For
- National MA certification (CMA, RMA, CCMA or NCMA)
- Accurate vital signs, measurements and injections
- Electronic health record charting
- Current BLS / CPR
- Scheduling, referrals and front desk support
- Clear, calm communication with patients and families
Career Path and Advancement
In Columbus, medical assistants often move from an entry clinic role to a certified or specialty clinic MA, then to lead MA, as Ohio State's own lead CMA postings show. Many use the experience to move into nursing through Columbus State's Licensed Practical Nurse certificate or nursing degree, or into clinic coordination and practice management.
Related Careers in Columbus
If medical assisting interests you, these related Columbus 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 Ohio?
No. Ohio has no state license for medical assistants; physicians delegate routine tasks under State Medical Board of Ohio rules. Many Columbus employers still require or prefer national certification such as the CMA or RMA.
How much do medical assistants make in Columbus?
The Columbus metro median is about $21.22 an hour, based on BLS May 2025 data. New MAs usually start around $18 to $20, and lead or specialty clinic MAs can earn $24 or more.
Where can I train as a medical assistant in Columbus?
Columbus State Community College offers a CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting Technology certificate at its Columbus and Delaware campuses. Graduates are eligible to take the CMA (AAMA) certification exam.
Can I get hired as a medical assistant without certification?
Often, yes. Several Columbus employers hire MAs with a training program or a year of experience and then require certification within 9 to 12 months, as Optum and Nationwide Children's postings state.
What hours do medical assistants work in Columbus?
Most clinic MA jobs are weekday daytime schedules, typically around 8am to 5pm, with no nights. Some urgent care and specialty clinics add evening or weekend shifts.
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