Median Salary
$45,690
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$21.97
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$59,310
entry level starts ~$36,050
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 818,000 employed
How much does a Medical Assistant make?
Medical Assistants in the United States bring home a median salary of $45,690 a year, or around $21.97 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $36,050, while the top 10% earn $59,310.
That is $15,700 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Medical Assistant salary range by percentile
Half of all Medical Assistants earn between $38,470 and $49,180 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,050 | $17.33 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $38,470 | $18.50 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $45,690 | $21.97 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $49,180 | $23.64 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,310 | $28.51 |
|
Highest-paying states for Medical Assistant
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Medical Assistant pay at $59,290 a year, followed by Alaska ($52,560) and District of Columbia ($51,050). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $35,360 — a gap of $23,930 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Medical Assistant salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $45,200North 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
Workforce and education
About 818,000 people work as Medical Assistants in the United States. On qualifications: a certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Medical Assistant make in the United States?
The median Medical Assistant salary in the United States is $45,690 per year, or about $21.97 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $36,050, while the top 10% of earners make $59,310 or more.
How does Medical Assistant pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Medical Assistant median of $45,690 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Medical Assistants the most?
Washington is the highest-paying state for Medical Assistants, with a median salary of $59,290 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Medical Assistant?
Becoming a Medical Assistant typically requires 6 to 18 months of training. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
How many Medical Assistants work in the United States?
About 818,000 people were employed as Medical Assistants in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.