How much does a medical assistant make?
The median medical assistant in the United States earns $45,690 per year, about $21.97 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all medical assistants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 31-9092.
Medical assistant salary range
Pay for medical assistants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $36,050 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $59,310. The average (mean) wage of $46,120 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,050 | $17.33 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $38,470 | $18.50 | |
| Median (50th) | $45,690 | $21.97 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $49,180 | $23.65 | |
| 90th percentile | $59,310 | $28.52 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for medical assistants (SOC 31-9092), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Medical assistant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Medical assistants earn the most in Washington at $59,290 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $35,360. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59,290 | 19,500 |
| Alaska | $52,560 | 2,140 |
| District of Columbia | $51,050 | 2,260 |
| Minnesota | $50,480 | 10,580 |
| Oregon | $50,410 | 11,840 |
| California | $49,660 | 117,060 |
| Massachusetts | $49,460 | 14,880 |
| Wisconsin | $48,680 | 13,810 |
| Hawaii | $48,410 | 3,890 |
| Colorado | $48,400 | 13,160 |
| New Hampshire | $48,020 | 3,000 |
| New York | $48,000 | 40,710 |
| Maine | $47,580 | 4,480 |
| Connecticut | $47,430 | 10,250 |
| Nebraska | $47,370 | 2,380 |
| Vermont | $47,250 | 1,140 |
| New Jersey | $47,210 | 20,330 |
| Rhode Island | $47,190 | 3,210 |
| Montana | $46,820 | 2,460 |
| Maryland | $46,410 | 16,390 |
| Illinois | $46,090 | 20,260 |
| North Dakota | $45,980 | 600 |
| Arizona | $45,940 | 21,460 |
| Iowa | $45,480 | 5,990 |
| Utah | $45,360 | 9,990 |
| Nevada | $45,200 | 7,760 |
| North Carolina | $45,140 | 23,650 |
| Indiana | $45,110 | 19,630 |
| Virginia | $44,740 | 16,650 |
| Idaho | $44,700 | 5,250 |
| Delaware | $44,490 | 2,880 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,920 | 23,050 |
| Florida | $43,680 | 66,110 |
| Ohio | $42,810 | 28,950 |
| South Dakota | $41,870 | 1,340 |
| Georgia | $41,600 | 28,780 |
| South Carolina | $41,160 | 12,110 |
| Wyoming | $40,920 | 1,040 |
| Missouri | $40,440 | 13,050 |
| Michigan | $39,870 | 27,810 |
| Tennessee | $39,570 | 19,180 |
| Texas | $39,520 | 75,340 |
| Kansas | $39,510 | 5,510 |
| Kentucky | $39,270 | 13,440 |
| New Mexico | $39,230 | 5,400 |
| Oklahoma | $38,750 | 10,510 |
| Arkansas | $37,760 | 5,150 |
| West Virginia | $37,180 | 4,540 |
| Louisiana | $36,320 | 12,310 |
| Alabama | $36,100 | 13,300 |
| Mississippi | $35,360 | 3,340 |
State median wages for medical assistants (SOC 31-9092), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for medical assistants
The BLS projects employment of medical assistants to grow 12.9% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 833,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 941,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 109,700 openings a year for medical assistants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a medical assistant
The typical entry-level education for medical assistants is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a medical assistant earns
Certification, work setting, shift, and region shape pay. Hospitals and high cost metros pay above clinics, nursing homes, and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $59,290) and the lowest (Mississippi, $35,360) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 817,870 people work as medical assistants in the United States. At $45,690 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Medical assistant salary FAQ
How much does a medical assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a medical assistant is $21.97. The middle half of medical assistants earn between $18.50 and $23.65 per hour.
What is the highest medical assistant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of medical assistants earn more than $59,310 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a medical assistant make a year?
The median annual salary for a medical assistant is $45,690. The average (mean) wage of $46,120 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a medical assistant a well paid job?
At $45,690 a year, a medical assistant earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 817,870 people work as medical assistants in the United States.
Which state pays medical assistants the most?
Washington has the highest median salary for medical assistants at $59,290 a year. Alaska ($52,560) and District of Columbia ($51,050) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a medical assistant a good career?
Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 12.9% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 109,700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a medical assistant?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for medical assistants as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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