Medical Assistant Salary in San Diego, CA
Medical Assistants in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $49,420 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,232 take-home, or $3,353 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical assistant salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,750
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,064
- Medicare (1.45%)$717
- California income tax$1,015
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$642
- Take-home pay$40,232
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Assistant pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,340 | $20.84 | $35,717 | $2,976 |
| 25th percentile | $47,690 | $22.93 | $38,968 | $3,247 |
| Median (50th) | $49,420 | $23.76 | $40,232 | $3,353 |
| 75th percentile | $60,480 | $29.08 | $48,311 | $4,026 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,340 | $31.89 | $52,527 | $4,377 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,420 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical assistant's $40,232 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,958 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for medical assistants, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #48 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 |
| 48 | San Diego, CA | $49,420 | $40,232 | $35,958 |
*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 California
- Sacramento, CA — $61,970
- San Jose, CA — $61,940
- San Francisco, CA — $59,790
- Bakersfield, CA — $46,560
- Fresno, CA — $46,500
- Riverside, CA — $46,700
- Los Angeles, CA — $47,760
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical assistant make in San Diego, CA?
The median medical assistant salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $49,420 a year, or about $23.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,690 and $60,480.
What is a medical assistant’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $49,420 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $40,232 a year ($3,353 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,657 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a medical assistant?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $45,690. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,958 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #48 of 63 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical assistant afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 73% of a median medical assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Dental Assistant — $58,120
- Nursing Assistant — $48,070
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $35,300