Medical Assistant Salary
Medical Assistants earn a median $45,690 a year nationally. Healthcare Support Occupations
U.S. median
$45,690
$21.97 per hour
Range
$36,050 – $59,310
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
817,870
across the U.S.
▲3.4%
Pay trend: The median for medical assistants in the U.S. rose from $44,200 (May 2024) to $45,690 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 1.0%.
What medical assistants do
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)
- Openings per year
- 109,700
Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 12.9% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 109,700 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Medical Assistant take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$38,892
per year · effective tax rate 14.9%
$3,241Monthly
$1,620Twice a month
$1,496Every 2 weeks
$18.70Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,303
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,833
- Medicare (1.45%)$663
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$38,892
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,050 | $17.33 | $31,146 |
| 25th percentile | $38,470 | $18.50 | $33,091 |
| Median (50th) | $45,690 | $21.97 | $38,892 |
| 75th percentile | $49,180 | $23.64 | $41,696 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,310 | $28.51 | $49,836 |
Best cities for medical assistants (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $61,500 | $51,595 | $46,427 | 10,210 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $61,970 | $49,400 | $46,311 | 7,410 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $61,940 | $49,378 | $44,717 | 6,400 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $49,590 | $40,625 | $41,908 | 4,170 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $59,790 | $47,807 | $41,351 | 14,320 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $56,240 | $43,277 | $41,052 | 6,390 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $52,570 | $42,369 | $40,420 | 7,390 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $45,300 | $37,387 | $40,399 | 4,220 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $46,900 | $38,510 | $40,242 | 6,580 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | $45,820 | $38,996 | $39,765 | 5,830 |
| 11 | Nashville, TN | $44,620 | $38,032 | $39,478 | 6,340 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $43,830 | $36,974 | $39,367 | 5,180 |
| 13 | Greenville, SC | $44,860 | $36,691 | $39,342 | 2,550 |
| 14 | Charlotte, NC | $46,520 | $38,211 | $39,252 | 6,060 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $44,340 | $37,370 | $39,184 | 5,560 |
| 16 | Louisville, KY | $44,450 | $36,457 | $39,170 | 4,140 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $44,140 | $37,215 | $38,981 | 5,850 |
| 18 | St. Louis, MO | $44,710 | $36,940 | $38,849 | 6,170 |
| 19 | Boise City, ID | $46,310 | $38,044 | $38,666 | 2,360 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $46,160 | $37,937 | $38,649 | 3,810 |
| 21 | Denver, CO | $49,700 | $40,636 | $38,414 | 6,440 |
| 22 | Providence, RI | $47,020 | $38,814 | $38,138 | 4,120 |
| 23 | Tucson, AZ | $44,380 | $36,939 | $38,122 | 2,990 |
| 24 | Bakersfield, CA | $46,560 | $38,134 | $37,799 | 2,340 |
| 25 | Salt Lake City, UT | $46,080 | $38,098 | $37,770 | 3,910 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Sacramento, CA — $61,970
- San Jose, CA — $61,940
- Seattle, WA — $61,500
- San Francisco, CA — $59,790
- Portland, OR — $56,240
- Minneapolis, MN — $52,570
- Boston, MA — $50,740
- Denver, CO — $49,700
- Milwaukee, WI — $49,590
- San Diego, CA — $49,420
- New York, NY — $48,370
- Bridgeport, CT — $47,970
- Los Angeles, CA — $47,760
- Urban Honolulu, HI — $47,720
- Chicago, IL — $47,270
Medical Assistant salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59,290 | +7.6% | $49,820 | $46,540 – $74,200 | 19,500 |
| Alaska | $52,560 | +1.3% | $44,412 | $46,060 – $65,040 | 2,140 |
| District of Columbia | $51,050 | +2.6% | $41,302 | $39,620 – $76,900 | 2,260 |
| Minnesota | $50,480 | +2.2% | $40,831 | $40,110 – $60,100 | 10,580 |
| Oregon | $50,410 | +1.0% | $39,103 | $43,760 – $62,160 | 11,840 |
| California | $49,660 | +3.4% | $40,407 | $39,290 – $77,300 | 117,060 |
| Massachusetts | $49,460 | +1.9% | $39,668 | $43,280 – $61,870 | 14,880 |
| Wisconsin | $48,680 | +2.2% | $39,933 | $39,480 – $57,990 | 13,810 |
| Hawaii | $48,410 | −0.8% | $38,908 | $38,580 – $60,030 | 3,890 |
| Colorado | $48,400 | +2.4% | $39,648 | $39,130 – $59,760 | 13,160 |
| New Hampshire | $48,020 | −0.0% | $40,764 | $39,640 – $60,100 | 3,000 |
| New York | $48,000 | +4.3% | $38,753 | $37,280 – $59,480 | 40,710 |
| Maine | $47,580 | +2.2% | $38,381 | $40,220 – $59,220 | 4,480 |
| Connecticut | $47,430 | +2.0% | $39,081 | $38,480 – $59,530 | 10,250 |
| Nebraska | $47,370 | +2.8% | $38,966 | $37,940 – $59,450 | 2,380 |
| Vermont | $47,250 | +4.2% | $38,996 | $40,570 – $58,420 | 1,140 |
| New Jersey | $47,210 | +2.0% | $39,053 | $37,010 – $58,070 | 20,330 |
| Rhode Island | $47,190 | +3.0% | $38,944 | $39,280 – $56,840 | 3,210 |
| Montana | $46,820 | +3.0% | $38,356 | $38,670 – $56,770 | 2,460 |
| Maryland | $46,410 | +3.0% | $37,630 | $36,930 – $57,250 | 16,390 |
| Illinois | $46,090 | +1.3% | $37,077 | $36,400 – $56,590 | 20,260 |
| North Dakota | $45,980 | +12.0% | $39,125 | $37,650 – $58,230 | 600 |
| Arizona | $45,940 | +1.1% | $38,153 | $38,100 – $51,310 | 21,460 |
| Iowa | $45,480 | +4.1% | $37,647 | $36,730 – $54,960 | 5,990 |
| Utah | $45,360 | +5.4% | $37,552 | $35,890 – $56,260 | 9,990 |
| Nevada | $45,200 | +4.0% | $38,498 | $37,400 – $55,120 | 7,760 |
| North Carolina | $45,140 | +6.0% | $37,158 | $36,010 – $50,850 | 23,650 |
| Indiana | $45,110 | +6.4% | $37,125 | $37,060 – $50,480 | 19,630 |
| Virginia | $44,740 | +5.7% | $36,370 | $37,090 – $52,000 | 16,650 |
| Idaho | $44,700 | +3.0% | $36,836 | $35,500 – $56,740 | 5,250 |
| Delaware | $44,490 | +6.4% | $36,135 | $36,540 – $57,280 | 2,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,920 | +2.6% | $36,121 | $36,810 – $48,500 | 23,050 |
| Florida | $43,680 | +5.6% | $37,277 | $35,880 – $49,040 | 66,110 |
| Ohio | $42,810 | +5.9% | $36,183 | $36,050 – $48,560 | 28,950 |
| South Dakota | $41,870 | +6.4% | $35,823 | $35,980 – $48,960 | 1,340 |
| Georgia | $41,600 | +6.7% | $34,069 | $34,270 – $51,430 | 28,780 |
| South Carolina | $41,160 | +6.0% | $33,940 | $34,730 – $49,110 | 12,110 |
| Wyoming | $40,920 | +4.3% | $35,059 | $31,200 – $51,840 | 1,040 |
| Missouri | $40,440 | +2.9% | $33,710 | $35,810 – $48,360 | 13,050 |
| Michigan | $39,870 | +2.7% | $32,772 | $35,000 – $48,330 | 27,810 |
| Tennessee | $39,570 | +3.7% | $33,974 | $34,840 – $48,540 | 19,180 |
| Texas | $39,520 | +1.5% | $33,934 | $31,200 – $49,260 | 75,340 |
| Kansas | $39,510 | +1.1% | $32,521 | $35,140 – $48,300 | 5,510 |
| Kentucky | $39,270 | +1.3% | $32,477 | $32,950 – $47,940 | 13,440 |
| New Mexico | $39,230 | +0.6% | $32,982 | $34,600 – $47,850 | 5,400 |
| Oklahoma | $38,750 | +3.1% | $32,117 | $31,880 – $47,640 | 10,510 |
| Arkansas | $37,760 | +1.6% | $31,260 | $30,840 – $46,060 | 5,150 |
| West Virginia | $37,180 | +3.7% | $31,049 | $30,890 – $45,350 | 4,540 |
| Louisiana | $36,320 | +1.3% | $30,660 | $28,970 – $44,460 | 12,310 |
| Alabama | $36,100 | +3.2% | $29,646 | $29,630 – $45,040 | 13,300 |
| Mississippi | $35,360 | +1.6% | $29,909 | $29,210 – $45,070 | 3,340 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +6.8% |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | High school diploma or equivalent | +10.8% |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.4% |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.8% |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -4.4% |
| Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker | $38,150 | High school diploma or equivalent | +9.1% |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,680 | High school diploma or equivalent | -0.7% |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +15.3% |
| Psychiatric Aide | $44,910 | High school diploma or equivalent | +1.9% |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +2.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical assistant make?
The national median salary for medical assistants is $45,690 a year ($21.97 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,050 and the top 10% earn over $59,310. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays medical assistants the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $59,290. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many medical assistants are there in the U.S.?
About 817,870 people work as medical assistants nationwide.
All 63 cities
- Albuquerque, NM
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Bakersfield, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Birmingham, AL
- Boise City, ID
- Boston, MA
- Bridgeport, CT
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Fresno, CA
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greenville, SC
- Hartford, CT
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Knoxville, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- McAllen, TX
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Providence, RI
- Raleigh, NC
- Richmond, VA
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- Urban Honolulu, HI
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC