Medical assistant earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level medical assistant earnings begin at:

$35.67 per hour

$74,200 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level medical assistant earnings begin at:

$30.57 per hour

$63,590 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level medical assistant earnings begin at:

$28.50 per hour

$59,290 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level medical assistant earnings begin at:

$23.71 per hour

$49,310 per year

10th percentile

Starting level medical assistant earnings begin at:

$22.38 per hour

$46,540 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Medical assistant salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Washington $59,290
Alaska $52,560
District of Columbia $51,050
Minnesota $50,480
Oregon $50,410
California $49,660
Massachusetts $49,460
Wisconsin $48,680
Hawaii $48,410
Colorado $48,400
New Hampshire $48,020
New York $48,000
Maine $47,580
Connecticut $47,430
Nebraska $47,370
Vermont $47,250
New Jersey $47,210
Rhode Island $47,190
Montana $46,820
Maryland $46,410
Illinois $46,090
North Dakota $45,980
Arizona $45,940
Iowa $45,480
Utah $45,360
Nevada $45,200
North Carolina $45,140
Indiana $45,110
Virginia $44,740
Idaho $44,700
Delaware $44,490
Pennsylvania $43,920
Florida $43,680
Ohio $42,810
South Dakota $41,870
Georgia $41,600
South Carolina $41,160
Wyoming $40,920
Missouri $40,440
Michigan $39,870
Tennessee $39,570
Texas $39,520
Kansas $39,510
Kentucky $39,270
New Mexico $39,230
Oklahoma $38,750
Arkansas $37,760
West Virginia $37,180
Louisiana $36,320
Alabama $36,100
Mississippi $35,360
Virgin Islands, U.S. $30,250
Guam $25,500
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 about the same as related careers in Washington. On average, they make less than physical therapist assistants but more than psychiatric technicians.

Career Median Salary
Physical therapist assistant salary $66K
Endoscopy technician salary $62K
Pharmacy technician salary $59K
Veterinary technologist salary $60K
Community health worker salary $57K
Medical assistant salary $59K
Medical secretary salary $58K
Dental assistant salary $58K
Psychiatric aide salary $53K
Psychiatric technician salary $52K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)