Medical Assistant Salary in Cleveland, OH
Medical Assistants in the Cleveland, OH metro area earn a median $43,830 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,974 take-home, or $3,081 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical assistant salary in Cleveland, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,080
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,717
- Medicare (1.45%)$636
- Ohio income tax$423
- Take-home pay$36,974
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Cleveland? City residents also pay Cleveland’s city income tax — about $1,096 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $35,879 ($2,990 a month). Choose “Cleveland” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Assistant pay by experience in Cleveland, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,110 | $17.84 | $31,760 | $2,647 |
| 25th percentile | $38,830 | $18.67 | $33,094 | $2,758 |
| Median (50th) | $43,830 | $21.07 | $36,974 | $3,081 |
| 75th percentile | $47,440 | $22.81 | $39,776 | $3,315 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,840 | $26.37 | $45,518 | $3,793 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,830 buys in Cleveland, OH
Prices in Cleveland, OH are 6.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical assistant's $36,974 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,367 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Medical Assistant jobs are about as common in Cleveland, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for medical assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Cleveland, OH ranks #12 of 63 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $61,500 | $51,595 | $46,427 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $61,970 | $49,400 | $46,311 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $61,940 | $49,378 | $44,717 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $49,590 | $40,625 | $41,908 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $59,790 | $47,807 | $41,351 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $56,240 | $43,277 | $41,052 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $52,570 | $42,369 | $40,420 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $45,300 | $37,387 | $40,399 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $43,830 | $36,974 | $39,367 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 63 metros →
About the job: medical assistants
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Medical Assistant salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cincinnati, OH — $44,340
- Columbus, OH — $44,140
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical assistant make in Cleveland, OH?
The median medical assistant salary in the Cleveland, OH metro area is $43,830 a year, or about $21.07 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,830 and $47,440.
What is a medical assistant’s take-home pay in Cleveland, OH?
On the median $43,830 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $36,974 a year ($3,081 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $423 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Cleveland, OH a good place to work as a medical assistant?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $45,690. Local prices are 6.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,367 would in a typical U.S. city. Cleveland, OH ranks #12 of 63 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical assistant afford rent in Cleveland, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Cleveland, OH is $1,048 a month ($1,268 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median medical assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Cleveland, OH
- Dental Assistant — $47,800
- Nursing Assistant — $39,010
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $34,520