The average salary for a medical assistant in California is around $36,080 per year.
Avg Salary
Medical assistants earn an average yearly salary of $36,080.
Wages typically start from $25,600 and go up to $55,830.
49% below national average Updated in 2018
Medical assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level medical assistant earnings begin at:
$26.84 per hour
$55,830 per year
Senior-level medical assistant earnings begin at:
$21.71 per hour
$45,150 per year
Mid-level medical assistant earnings begin at:
$17.34 per hour
$36,080 per year
Junior-level medical assistant earnings begin at:
$14.33 per hour
$29,820 per year
Starting level medical assistant earnings begin at:
$12.31 per hour
$25,600 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Medical assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $41,500 |
| Washington | $40,620 |
| Minnesota | $39,880 |
| Massachusetts | $39,240 |
| Oregon | $38,200 |
| New York | $37,560 |
| Connecticut | $36,950 |
| North Dakota | $36,480 |
| Wisconsin | $36,430 |
| New Hampshire | $36,400 |
| Vermont | $36,300 |
| California | $36,080 |
| Illinois | $35,910 |
| Rhode Island | $35,880 |
| Colorado | $35,640 |
| New Jersey | $35,290 |
| Maryland | $35,270 |
| Maine | $34,940 |
| Alaska | $34,847 |
| Montana | $34,070 |
| Virginia | $33,710 |
| Nebraska | $33,660 |
| Wyoming | $33,430 |
| Utah | $33,000 |
| Nevada | $32,950 |
| Florida | $32,870 |
| North Carolina | $32,710 |
| Delaware | $32,560 |
| Tennessee | $32,370 |
| Missouri | $32,200 |
| Michigan | $31,900 |
| Hawaii | $31,883 |
| Georgia | $31,790 |
| Ohio | $31,680 |
| Texas | $31,580 |
| Iowa | $31,366 |
| South Carolina | $31,220 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $30,250 |
| Oklahoma | $30,200 |
| Idaho | $30,131 |
| New Mexico | $30,050 |
| Kansas | $29,945 |
| South Dakota | $29,660 |
| Mississippi | $28,770 |
| Louisiana | $28,120 |
| Kentucky | $27,856 |
| West Virginia | $27,810 |
| Arizona | $27,004 |
| Indiana | $26,889 |
| Alabama | $26,649 |
| Pennsylvania | $25,876 |
| Guam | $25,500 |
| Arkansas | $25,463 |
| Puerto Rico | $19,870 |
How much does a Medical Assistant earn?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting is one of the fastest growing career fields. Growing demand for medical assistants will positively impact medical assistant salaries in the years to come. Factors affecting medical assistant salary include the level and quality of training achieved, level of job experience, and the presence of certification.
While physicians' offices and hospitals employ the most medical assistants, scientific research and development services and personal care services pay the highest wages. The median annual Medical Assistant salary is $32,692, as of February 22, 2016, with a range usually between $30,142-$35,297.
Medical Assistant Compensation by Geographical Region
Medical assistant salary and hourly wages are influenced by many factors. The most significant is location, with medical assistant pay varying widely from state to state and from city to city. The highest paid in the medical assistant profession work in the metropolitan areas of San Jose, California, Santa Rosa, California, and San Francisco. The Santa Cruz, California area also pays well, as does the city of Fairbanks, Alaska. The lowest paying states for medical assistants are Wyoming, West Virginia, South Dakota, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, and Montana.
How do medical assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Medical assistants earn 7% more than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than ophthalmic medical technicians but more than personal care aides.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Ophthalmic medical technician salary | $40K |
| Optician salary | $39K |
| Dental assistant salary | $39K |
| Orderly salary | $37K |
| Paramedic salary | $32K |
| Medical assistant salary | $36K |
| Psychiatric aide salary | $30K |
| Home health aide salary | $29K |
| Veterinary assistant salary | $29K |
| Personal care aide salary | $23K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)