California Median
$49,660
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.88
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+9% vs US median
US median $45,690
State Rank
#6 of 51
117,060 employed here
How much does a Medical Assistant make in California?
Medical Assistants in California take home a median of $49,660 annually — roughly $23.88 an hour — which runs 9% above the national median of $45,690.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $39,290 while the top 10% make $77,300 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,240 and $61,870 a year.
Medical Assistant salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,290 | $18.89 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $46,240 | $22.23 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $49,660 | $23.88 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $61,870 | $29.75 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,300 | $37.16 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories for Medical Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Medical Assistant salary in other states
Washington $59,290Alaska $52,560District of Columbia $51,050Minnesota $50,480Oregon $50,410Massachusetts $49,460Wisconsin $48,680Hawaii $48,410Colorado $48,400New Hampshire $48,020New York $48,000Maine $47,580Connecticut $47,430Nebraska $47,370Vermont $47,250New Jersey $47,210Rhode Island $47,190Montana $46,820Maryland $46,410Illinois $46,090North Dakota $45,980Arizona $45,940Iowa $45,480Utah $45,360Nevada $45,200North Carolina $45,140Indiana $45,110Virginia $44,740Idaho $44,700Delaware $44,490Pennsylvania $43,920Florida $43,680Ohio $42,810South Dakota $41,870Georgia $41,600South Carolina $41,160Wyoming $40,920Missouri $40,440Michigan $39,870Tennessee $39,570Texas $39,520Kansas $39,510Kentucky $39,270New Mexico $39,230Oklahoma $38,750Arkansas $37,760West Virginia $37,180Louisiana $36,320Alabama $36,100Mississippi $35,360
Working as a Medical Assistant in California
Nationally, about 818,000 people work as Medical Assistants in the United States. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($49,660) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Medical Assistant make in California?
The median Medical Assistant salary in California is $49,660 per year, or about $23.88 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $39,290 at the entry level to $77,300 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Medical Assistants about 9% more than the national median of $45,690. California ranks 6th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Medical Assistants?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $49,660 a year. About 117,060 Medical Assistants are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Medical Assistant salary report
Related salaries
$39,160
median pay · 4,000 employed
$38,290
median pay · 52,000 employed
$44,910
median pay · 36,000 employed
$47,700
median pay · 77,000 employed
$38,150
median pay · 127,000 employed
$60,600
median pay · 101,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.