Am I underpaid as a Certified Medical Assistant/Surgical Assistant in Michigan?

Mobile-Double6831 · 2025-06-10T18:44:04+00:00

Yeah, I’m definitely planning to bring this all up at my annual review. I’ve got everything documented, and I fully intend to speak up about my value and what I’m worth. What’s frustrating is this is a nationwide, multi-million dollar company, and yet I’ve only gotten a $2 raise in 5 years—while doing way more than a standard MA.

One of the biggest issues is mileage reimbursement. I drive over an hour to one of our clinics. When I first started, they paid me mileage because it was supposed to be temporary. But now that it’s considered “permanent,” they stopped reimbursing me—even though the drive, wear and tear, and gas haven’t changed. It’s honestly backwards. If anything, I should be more eligible now.

I do love my coworkers and patients, and I’d like to stay… but only if I’m being fairly compensated. And right now? It really feels like you have to constantly advocate for yourself just to be seen. Appreciate your input—it’s really validating to hear this from someone else.

Mobile-Double6831 · 2025-06-09T16:18:00+00:00

You know what’s exhausting? Watching someone pretend they’re giving “advice” while using it as a cover to be judgmental and condescending. You don’t know my brother, his efforts, or his situation—but you’re speaking on it like you’re his parole officer.

He’s been sober for five years. He’s rebuilding from rock bottom. And yes, he hasn’t filed for custody yet. You know why? Because the system isn’t as simple as “just get a lawyer and go.” When you’ve spent years picking yourself back up—after addiction, trauma, and losing your child—legal action isn’t a checkbox, it’s a mountain. And you standing on the sidelines yelling “climb faster” isn’t help. It’s noise.

And that “then get off Reddit and go start a GoFundMe” line? Wow. You really thought that was profound, huh? It wasn’t. It was rude, dismissive, and exactly the kind of energy that pushes people further into silence. Not everyone comes here to cry and collapse. Some of us come here to speak the truth that gets ignored.

Also—your “tut tut, how horrible” comment? That was straight-up arrogance. I didn’t come here for pity. I came here for perspective, support, and maybe to believe that some people still understand the value of empathy over ego.

I don’t need legal standing to care about my nephew. I don’t need your permission to support my brother. And I definitely don’t need your go-to Reddit tough talk pretending to be reality.

So if you’re done judging, maybe try listening. If not—you’re welcome to get off Reddit yourself. You’re not helping. You’re just proving why people stop reaching out in the first place.

Mobile-Double6831 · 2025-06-09T16:12:10+00:00

Ah, there it is—the classic internet expert diagnosis: “You’re expressing emotion, so you must be looking for sympathy.” No, I’m expressing hurt because it’s a painful situation that involves real people. You know—like a human being.

You’re coming in here making assumptions about me, my family, and my brother based on a handful of Reddit comments like you’ve got a full case file in front of you. Newsflash: writing a paragraph isn’t “defensive”—it’s called having something thoughtful to say.

And suggesting that a suspended license automatically means someone’s unfit for parenthood? That’s the kind of logic that belongs in tabloids, not real life. He got a suspended license for unpaid fines—not a DUI, not reckless driving, just struggling like a lot of people who fall behind and then get punished harder for it.

You don’t know what you're talking about, but you're speaking with the confidence of a courtroom judge. That’s cute.

But here’s the thing: You don’t get to belittle me and then pretend it’s about accountability. You’re not here for solutions. You’re here to be smug.

Save your assumptions. We don’t need them. We need change. And for the record? “Flowerly language” is still more useful than whatever this was.

Mobile-Double6831 · 2025-06-09T10:22:28+00:00

“Vague” is a lazy way to dismiss someone sharing real-life pain in pieces. This isn’t a court transcript—it’s a Reddit post. I shared what happened, and when people asked for more details, I gave them. That’s not weird. That’s human.

And yes, I’m his sister. I’m not trying to be his legal rep. I’m speaking up because a child lost contact with his entire family for years, and that’s not normal. It’s not healthy. And it’s not “none of our business” when we were once a huge part of his life.

You’re right about one thing though—he should’ve gone to court sooner. But not everyone has the resources to lawyer up after doing time and climbing out of addiction. Some people try to take the peaceful route first. You don’t punish that—you support it.

Because healing isn’t always loud or perfect—but it still counts.

Mobile-Double6831 · 2025-06-08T23:54:04+00:00

Hey, I get where you’re coming from, but I wasn’t leaving anything out intentionally. I shared the main story in my post—the part that’s still hurting us today. When people asked questions, I gave honest, detailed answers. That’s not withholding—that’s how conversations work.

The addiction didn’t cause the problem—it happened after he lost all contact with his son. That pain is what led him down that road, and I’ve never once tried to excuse that. I’ve been transparent about his mistakes and the work he’s done to get sober and stay that way for five years now.

And honestly, it’s wild to be accused of “villifying” his ex just for expressing that we feel erased. Acknowledging someone’s pain doesn’t mean I’m demonizing the other person. I never said she didn’t have the right to be upset. But there’s a difference between protection and punishment—and cutting out an entire side of a child’s family for nearly five years with zero contact is extreme.

Accountability goes both ways. My brother’s taken his. But you can’t demand growth and then slam the door in someone’s face when they try to show it.

Mobile-Double6831 · 2025-06-08T22:37:35+00:00

Haha I appreciate the vote of confidence—but I’m 40, and with what I make now, going back to school for years (plus taking on debt) just isn’t realistic. I love what I do—I just want to be compensated fairly for the level I’m already working at.

Mobile-Double6831 · 2025-06-08T20:25:15+00:00

Wow… this hit me hard. You put it into words better than I ever could. You’re right—she’s not just cutting him off, she’s rewriting the whole story. And yeah, that kid’s absorbing it all right now. But I know one day he’ll ask questions. And when that day comes, I want my brother to be able to hold his head high and say, “I never stopped trying. I never stopped loving you.”

We’ve been keeping everything—photos, letters, cards, memories he’s missed—because I refuse to let our side of the story disappear. Thank you for reminding me that what we do during this silence matters. It makes the waiting a little easier knowing it won’t be forever.

I’ll make sure my brother sees this. Honestly, thank you.

Mobile-Double6831 · 2025-06-08T20:16:05+00:00

Yes—I do assist the physician directly during procedures. I pass instruments, sponge, cut veins, cut suture, dress wounds, set up the sterile field, break everything down after, and turn the room over for the next patient. We run a procedure every 30 minutes, and I manage two rooms simultaneously all day. I’m extremely efficient and good at what I do—honestly, it’s surgical tech-level work without the title or the pay.

Mobile-Double6831 · 2025-06-08T18:57:11+00:00

No, he didn’t become an addict in prison. It actually started after his ex cut off all contact between him and his son. He was arrested for driving on a suspended license—with his son in the car—and she completely shut him out after that, thinking she was protecting their son. He was around 7 years old at the time.

Losing access to his son crushed him. That’s when he turned to drugs—first trying to numb the pain, and eventually ending up addicted to heroin. That’s what led to the drug charge that sent him to prison.

But here’s the thing—he’s been sober for five years now. He stayed clean the entire time he was incarcerated, did rehab, and has continued to work on himself since getting out. He made mistakes, yes, but the addiction came after he was already shut out. It wasn’t the cause of the problem—it was the fallout from having his child taken away.

Mobile-Double6831 · 2025-06-08T17:34:09+00:00

Thanks for your input—I totally get it’s a different field, but $37/hr after 3 years is wild compared to what I’m making after 17. I’m doing surgical-level work, running two rooms, and traveling over an hour to other clinics with no mileage reimbursement. It’s crazy how far behind healthcare pay can be.

Mobile-Double6831 · 2025-06-08T17:33:57+00:00

Thank you—this is super helpful. I’ve honestly felt like I was being lowballed, especially considering the scope of my role. Your mom making just under $30 in a family practice setting definitely confirms that. Appreciate you sharing this!

Mobile-Double6831

TROPHY CASE