truest.me
Career adviceExplore careersHow it works
Log inGet started
truest.me
Explore
Career adviceExplore careersHow it works
The product
MosaicNetwork InsightsCareer CompassCareer Vault
More
Sponsor someoneLog in
Get started
truest.me
Product
How it worksMosaicNetwork InsightsCareer CompassCareer VaultExplore careersCareer advice
Company
AboutPricingWho is truest forWays to access truestSponsor people & teamsContact
Follow
LinkedInXBlueskyInstagramYouTube
Copyright © 2026 Truest, Inc. All rights reserved.
Browse Careers
Career Explorer →
Tracks
See all →
Admin & OfficeAgricultureArts & MediaBusiness OperationsConstructionEducationEngineeringExecutive LeadershipFacilitiesFinanceFood ServiceHealthcareHuman ResourcesLegalMaintenance & RepairMarketingOperationsPersonal CareProductionProtective ServicesReal EstateSalesScienceSocial ServicesTechnologyTransportation
Top industries
See all →
HealthcareAdministrative ServicesK-12 SchoolsHospitality & Food ServiceHospital SystemsRetailWholesale & DistributionCatering & Mobile Food ServicesProfessional ServicesHospitals & Medical CentersEducationRestaurants & DiningGovernmentManufacturingAmbulatory Healthcare ServicesAdministrative Support ServicesConstructionFinancial ServicesGeneral Merchandise StoresColleges & UniversitiesConsumer ServicesLocal Government ServicesFull-Service RestaurantsSpecialty Trade ContractorsTransportation & LogisticsReal Estate Services
Top metros
See all →
New York-NewarkLos Angeles-Long BeachChicago-NapervilleDallas-Fort WorthHouston-PasadenaWashington-ArlingtonAtlanta-Sandy SpringsPhiladelphia-CamdenMiami-Fort LauderdaleBoston-CambridgeSan Francisco-OaklandPhoenix-MesaSeattle-TacomaMinneapolis-St. PaulDetroit-WarrenRiverside-San BernardinoDenver-AuroraSan Diego-Chula VistaTampa-St. PetersburgOrlando-KissimmeeCharlotte-ConcordBaltimore-ColumbiaSt. LouisAustin-Round RockPortland-VancouverSan Jose-Sunnyvale
Terms of usePrivacy policytruest is a public benefit company
Careers›Roles›Doctor Assistant
Mid-Level

Doctor Assistant

A Doctor Assistant typically supports physicians in clinical workflows — patient prep, vitals, documentation assistance, room turnover, and coordinating with the broader care team across the day.

Doctor Assistant pay typically runs $76K–$104K at this level, and jobs in this field are projected to grow 16% through 2034.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
S
C
I
R
E
A
Socialhelping, teaching
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Doctor Assistants
Wholesale & DistributionManufacturingProfessional ServicesReal EstateRetailTechnology & Information
Job markets for Doctor Assistants
Where Doctor Assistant jobs concentrate · ~400 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Healthcare
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers

While you’re learning about the Doctor Assistant role, anything we can help you with this week?

What it's like

What it's like to be a Doctor Assistant

A typical day involves patient intake, vitals collection, EHR documentation support, and room flow management. You'll often work alongside the physician for a full shift, anticipating what they'll need next and handling the operational load that lets them focus on clinical decisions. Pacing varies with patient volume and complexity.

The clinical-administrative blend can surprise newcomers — the role flexes between hands-on patient care and detailed documentation. Coordination with MAs, nurses, billing, and the physician is constant. HIPAA discipline shapes every interaction.

People who thrive here typically have steady composure, comfort with clinical environments, and reliable follow-through. Anticipating clinical workflow and the temperament to handle rapid context-switching usually matter more than depth in any single specialty.

What people in this role value
RelationshipsAbove avg
SupportAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
IndependenceModerate
RecognitionModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns

Still figuring out what you want to become
when you grow up?

Start figuring it out
For people who want to build a meaningful career.truest.me
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Professional Services$77K+1%
Energy & Utilities$77K+0%
Technology & Information$74K-4%
Financial Services$70K-9%
Healthcare$70K-9%
Compared to Healthcare average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Doctor Assistants (SOC 29-1071.00, 31-9092.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Healthcare →
Doctor AssistantOrthopedic AssistantAdvanced Practice Provider (AAP)Orthopedic Physician AssistantClinical Medical AssistantCertified Physician Assistant (PA-C)Family Physician AssistantCertified Physician's Assistant (PA-C)Family Practice Physician AssistantHospital Clinic AssistantEmergency Medicine Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine PA)Physician Assistant (PA)Dermatology Medical AssistantPhysician's AssistantFamily Medicine PA (Family Medicine Physician Assistant)Autopsy AssistantMedical Office WorkerHealth AssistantSurgical Critical Care Physician Assistant (Surgical Critical Care PA)Optometric AssistantHealth Unit ClerkPediatric Physician AssistantChiropractor AssistantMedical Assistant (MA)Medical Service Technician+1 more

Don't know if you want to stay in your job?
Get your career on record. Then decide.

See how truest works
For people who want to build a meaningful career.truest.me
✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$35K–$182K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
949K
U.S. Employment
+16.45%
10yr Growth
124K
Annual Openings

How Doctor Assistant pay & employment are changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationSocial PerceptivenessJudgment and Decision MakingWritingComplex Problem Solving
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
29-1071.0031-9092.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

midOrthopedic Assistant$61KmidAdvanced Practice Provider (AAP)$133KmidOrthopedic Physician Assistant$133KmidClinical Medical Assistant$44KmidCertified Physician Assistant (PA-C)$133KmidFamily Physician Assistant$133K
View all Healthcare roles →

Common questions about what it's like to be a Doctor Assistant

What does a Doctor Assistant do?

A Doctor Assistant typically supports physicians in clinical workflows — patient prep, vitals, documentation assistance, room turnover, and coordinating with the broader care team across the day.

How much does a Doctor Assistant make?

Median pay for a Doctor Assistant is about $89K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $35K to $182K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Doctor Assistant need?

Core skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Active Listening, and Social Perceptiveness.

What education do you need to be a Doctor Assistant?

Most people in this role hold a master's degree.

Is a Doctor Assistant in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to grow about 16.45% through 2034, with roughly 949,000 people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to a Doctor Assistant?

Closely related roles include Orthopedic Assistant, Advanced Practice Provider (AAP), and Orthopedic Physician Assistant.

Career advice

Doctor Assistant career advice

Do one small thing to grow in your career this week. Pick one of these; each comes with the words to use.

  • ConversationGathers real examples of your impact before your self-review is due.Ask peers what your work changed for them
  • WorksheetPassing on work so the next person can pick it up without chasing you.Hand off work so nothing drops
  • Simple exerciseLook at the steps up and sideways from your job, and find one you'd be excited to do.Walk the roles next to yours
  • SequenceA short sequence for the days after a review that stung, so you respond well rather than fastTake a disappointing review one step at a time

Swipe for more

More career advice

  • Recap a conversation in writing
  • Close out a project out loud
  • Sort your list by urgent and important
  • Learn how each person likes to work
  • Agree how you'll work together
  • Present one piece of your work
  • Check your job against what matters to you
  • Share the why, not just the task

We believe careers grow through small steps taken often, more than big leaps. So we’ve collected hundreds of them for you to try.

Browse career advice

Still figuring out what you want to become
when you grow up?

Start figuring it out
For people who want to build a meaningful career.truest.me
Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.

It's your career.
Take the wheel.

See how truest works
truest.me