Medical assistant salary

Medical assistants in the U.S. earn a median $45,690 a year.

Median pay
$45,690
Median hourly
$21.97
Typical range
$36,050–$59,310
Jobs
817,870

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for medical assistants in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$36,050
25th$38,470
Median$45,690
75th$49,180
90th (top earners)$59,310

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$48,37044,060
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$47,76039,770
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$43,10020,560
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$44,93018,670
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$42,11018,280
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$46,06016,910
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$47,27015,640
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$46,83015,410
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$59,79014,320
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$46,64013,890

Medical assistant salary by state

  1. 1Washington$59,290
  2. 2Alaska$52,560
  3. –District of Columbia$51,050
  4. 3Minnesota$50,480
  5. 4Oregon$50,410
  6. 5California$49,660
  7. 6Massachusetts$49,460
  8. 7Wisconsin$48,680
  9. 8Hawaii$48,410
  10. 9Colorado$48,400
  11. 10New Hampshire$48,020
  12. 11New York$48,000
  13. 12Maine$47,580
  14. 13Connecticut$47,430
  15. 14Nebraska$47,370
  16. 15Vermont$47,250
  17. 16New Jersey$47,210
  18. 17Rhode Island$47,190
  19. 18Montana$46,820
  20. 19Maryland$46,410
  21. –Puerto Rico$46,120
  22. 20Illinois$46,090
  23. 21North Dakota$45,980
  24. 22Arizona$45,940
  25. 23Iowa$45,480
  26. 24Utah$45,360
  27. 25Nevada$45,200
  28. 26North Carolina$45,140
  29. 27Indiana$45,110
  30. 28Virginia$44,740
  31. 29Idaho$44,700
  32. 30Delaware$44,490
  33. 31Pennsylvania$43,920
  34. 32Florida$43,680
  35. 33Ohio$42,810
  36. 34South Dakota$41,870
  37. 35Georgia$41,600
  38. 36South Carolina$41,160
  39. 37Wyoming$40,920
  40. 38Missouri$40,440
  41. 39Michigan$39,870
  42. 40Tennessee$39,570
  43. 41Texas$39,520
  44. 42Kansas$39,510
  45. 43Kentucky$39,270
  46. 44New Mexico$39,230
  47. 45Oklahoma$38,750
  48. 46Arkansas$37,760
  49. 47West Virginia$37,180
  50. 48Louisiana$36,320
  51. 49Alabama$36,100
  52. 50Mississippi$35,360

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

Medical assistant schoolsHow to become a medical assistant

Frequently asked questions

How much do medical assistants make?

The median pay for medical assistants in the U.S. is $45,690 a year ($21.97 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,050, and the top 10% earn over $59,310.

Which states pay medical assistants the most?

The top-paying states are Washington ($59,290), Alaska ($52,560), Minnesota ($50,480), Oregon ($50,410), California ($49,660).

How can a medical assistant earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a medical assistant covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Medical Assistants, SOC 31-9092). Figures exclude self-employed workers.