North Carolina Median
$45,140
per year
Hourly Rate
$21.70
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-1% vs US median
US median $45,690
State Rank
#27 of 51
23,650 employed here
How much does a Medical Assistant make in North Carolina?
Medical Assistants in North Carolina take home a median of $45,140 annually — roughly $21.70 an hour — which runs 1% below the national median of $45,690.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $36,010 while the top 10% make $50,850 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $38,490 and $47,500 a year.
Medical Assistant salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,010 | $17.31 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $38,490 | $18.50 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $45,140 | $21.70 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $47,500 | $22.84 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,850 | $24.45 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 27th 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 $50,410California $49,660Massachusetts $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 $45,200Indiana $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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina pay ($45,140) 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 North Carolina?
The median Medical Assistant salary in North Carolina is $45,140 per year, or about $21.70 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $36,010 at the entry level to $50,850 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Medical Assistants about 1% less than the national median of $45,690. North Carolina ranks 27th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Medical Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $45,140 a year. About 23,650 Medical Assistants are employed in North Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Medical Assistant salary report
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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.