SOC 31-9092 · May 2025
Medical Assistant Salary
Medical Assistants in the US earn a median of $45,690 a year ($22.17 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Medical Assistant pay climbed from $35,720 in 2019 to $46,120 in 2025, a +29.1% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$45,690
Half of all Medical Assistants in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+29.1% since 2019 · +3.1% YoY
Hourly
$22.17
Job growth 2025-35
+12.9%
US workers
817,870
BLS series
Annual median wage for Medical Assistants in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Medical Assistants is $36,050 – $59,310.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$36,050
25th
$38,470
Median
$45,690
75th
$49,180
90th
$59,310
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Medical Assistants. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $36,050 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $38,470 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $45,690 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $49,180 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $59,310 |
Geography
Medical Assistant pay by state
Medical Assistants earn the most in Washington ($59,290, +30% against the national median) and the least in Mississippi ($35,360). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$45,690
Highest-paying states for medical assistants
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59,290 | +30% | 19,500 |
| Alaska | $52,560 | +15% | 2,140 |
| D.C. | $51,050 | +12% | 2,260 |
| Minnesota | $50,480 | +10% | 10,580 |
| Oregon | $50,410 | +10% | 11,840 |
| California | $49,660 | +9% | 117,060 |
| Massachusetts | $49,460 | +8% | 14,880 |
| Wisconsin | $48,680 | +7% | 13,810 |
| Hawaii | $48,410 | +6% | 3,890 |
| Colorado | $48,400 | +6% | 13,160 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $59,290 | 19,500 |
| Alaska | $52,560 | 2,140 |
| D.C. | $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 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Medical Assistants
Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks in physicians' offices and outpatient clinics, taking vitals, scheduling appointments, preparing patients for exams, and managing records. Most enter through 1-year certificate programs.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $36,050 – $59,310. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Washington, Alaska and D.C.. Pay in Washington runs 1.7 times the level in Mississippi, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as postsecondary nondegree award, and projects about 109,700 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 12.9% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Medical Assistant salary in the US?
How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour?
How much do Medical Assistants make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Medical Assistants the most?
Is the average Medical Assistant salary higher than the median?
Is Medical Assistant a growing career?
Open positions
Open Medical Assistant roles hiring now
Browse current Medical Assistant listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 31-9092. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.