Careers

Medical Assistant Salary and Careers

What Does a Medical Assistant Earn, and Where Can the Career Go?

The national median medical assistant salary was $45,690 a year, or $21.97 an hour, in May 2025, according to BLS OEWS data for 817,870 workers. The middle half earned $38,470 to $49,180. Pay runs highest in Washington, where the median is $59,290, and lowest in Mississippi at $35,360. The BLS projects 13% job growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 109,700 openings a year.

Researched and edited by Taylor Rupe · Updated October 12, 2026

A gloved clinician draws blood from a patient's arm, with a tourniquet in place and sample tubes in a rack behind — Photo: Gustavo Fring / Pexels

Medical Assistant Salary: What the BLS Reports

Medical assistants earned a median of $45,690 a year in May 2025, or $21.97 an hour. That figure comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, which counted 817,870 medical assistants nationwide. The median means half earned more and half earned less.

Pay level	Annual wage, May 2025
Lowest 10% earned less than	$36,050
Lowest 25% earned less than	$38,470
Median	$45,690
Top 25% earned more than	$49,180
Top 10% earned more than	$59,310
Mean (average)	$46,120

The band is narrow. Half of all medical assistants earned between $38,470 and $49,180. Where you live moves your pay more than almost anything else, so start with your state.

Medical Assistant Salary by State

The highest-paying states sit mostly in the West and Northeast:

State	Median annual pay	Median hourly	Medical assistants employed
Washington	$59,290	$28.50	19,500
Alaska	$52,560	$25.27	2,140
District of Columbia	$51,050	$24.54	2,260
Minnesota	$50,480	$24.27	10,580
Oregon	$50,410	$24.24	11,840
California	$49,660	$23.88	117,060
Massachusetts	$49,460	$23.78	14,880
Wisconsin	$48,680	$23.41	13,810

The lowest medians are in the South:

State	Median annual pay	Median hourly	Medical assistants employed
Arkansas	$37,760	$18.15	5,150
West Virginia	$37,180	$17.87	4,540
Louisiana	$36,320	$17.46	12,310
Alabama	$36,100	$17.35	13,300
Mississippi	$35,360	$17	3,340

The four largest job markets each tell a different story. California employs 117,060 medical assistants at a $49,660 median, and its top 10% earned $77,300 or more. In Washington, even the lowest-paid 10% earned $46,540 or more, above the national median. Texas employs 75,340 at a $39,520 median. Florida employs 66,110 at $43,680, and New York employs 40,710 at $48,000. Each state page lists local programs and their costs.

Other large markets sit near the national median:

State	Median annual pay	Medical assistants employed
Ohio	$42,810	28,950
Georgia	$41,600	28,780
Michigan	$39,870	27,810
North Carolina	$45,140	23,650
Pennsylvania	$43,920	23,050
Arizona	$45,940	21,460
New Jersey	$47,210	20,330
Illinois	$46,090	20,260

What Medical Assistants Do Every Day

The job mixes patient care with office work. The BLS lists these core duties:

Interviewing patients and recording their medical history.
Measuring vital signs, such as blood pressure and weight.
Helping physicians with patient examinations.
Giving injections or medications as directed by physicians and as permitted by state law.
Collecting and preparing blood and other specimens for lab tests.
Scheduling appointments and entering vitals and test results into medical records.
Keeping medical and office supplies stocked.

What you may do varies by state, which is why injections and some lab tests depend on state law. Your specialty shapes the day too: the BLS notes that medical assistants working for ophthalmologists show patients how to insert, remove and care for contact lenses.

Programs train for this mix. Of the 1,340 verified programs, 657 teach phlebotomy, 570 teach EKG, 468 teach pharmacology and 365 teach billing and coding. Only 28 teach limited X-ray.

What Makes a Strong Medical Assistant

The BLS names five qualities that matter in the job:

Analytical skills, to understand medical charts and diagnoses.
Communication, to give patients important information, such as when scheduling appointments or explaining medical information.
Compassion, for patients who are sick or injured and may be in pain or distress, and for their families.
Attention to detail, because physicians, patients and insurance companies rely on accurate vital signs and records.
Interpersonal skills, to discuss patient information with physicians and other professionals and to stay courteous with patients.

Programs build the technical side through medical terminology, anatomy and pharmacology courses, usually with supervised practical experience. The externship adds supervised work with real patients before you graduate.

Where Medical Assistants Work

Most medical assistants work in outpatient care:

Physicians’ offices: 56%
Hospitals: 17%
Outpatient care centers: 10%
Offices of other health practitioners, such as chiropractors and optometrists: 8%

Most work full time. The BLS notes that some work evening, weekend or holiday shifts in medical facilities that are open around the clock.

Medical Assistant Pay, From Entry Level to the Top Tenth

10th percentile: $36,050
25th percentile: $38,470
Median: $45,690
75th percentile: $49,180
90th percentile: $59,310

National annual wages for 817,870 medical assistants (SOC 31-9092), BLS OEWS May 2025. The median hourly wage is $21.97.

Medical Assistant Pay by State

State	Median pay	Middle half earns	Medical assistants employed
MA programs in Washington	$59,290	$49,310 to $63,590	19,500
MA programs in Alaska	$52,560	$48,930 to $61,510	2,140
MA programs in District of Columbia	$51,050	$47,740 to $59,850	2,260
MA programs in Minnesota	$50,480	$47,220 to $58,540	10,580
MA programs in Oregon	$50,410	$47,170 to $59,160	11,840
MA programs in California	$49,660	$46,240 to $61,870	117,060
MA programs in Massachusetts	$49,460	$46,910 to $58,100	14,880
MA programs in Wisconsin	$48,680	$46,370 to $55,000	13,810
MA programs in Hawaii	$48,410	$45,290 to $55,940	3,890
MA programs in Colorado	$48,400	$45,280 to $55,570	13,160
MA programs in New Hampshire	$48,020	$45,090 to $51,580	3,000
MA programs in New York	$48,000	$43,600 to $55,120	40,710
MA programs in Maine	$47,580	$45,420 to $51,460	4,480
MA programs in Connecticut	$47,430	$45,180 to $50,210	10,250
MA programs in Nebraska	$47,370	$42,860 to $50,010	2,380
MA programs in Vermont	$47,250	$45,550 to $50,130	1,140
MA programs in New Jersey	$47,210	$42,150 to $49,920	20,330
MA programs in Rhode Island	$47,190	$45,370 to $48,630	3,210
MA programs in Montana	$46,820	$40,900 to $48,960	2,460
MA programs in Maryland	$46,410	$39,390 to $49,110	16,390
MA programs in Illinois	$46,090	$38,970 to $49,460	20,260
MA programs in North Dakota	$45,980	$39,090 to $54,620	600
MA programs in Arizona	$45,940	$40,370 to $48,450	21,460
MA programs in Iowa	$45,480	$38,980 to $48,030	5,990
MA programs in Utah	$45,360	$38,460 to $48,170	9,990
MA programs in Nevada	$45,200	$38,270 to $47,330	7,760
MA programs in North Carolina	$45,140	$38,490 to $47,500	23,650
MA programs in Indiana	$45,110	$39,160 to $47,290	19,630
MA programs in Virginia	$44,740	$38,840 to $46,570	16,650
MA programs in Idaho	$44,700	$37,780 to $48,160	5,250
MA programs in Delaware	$44,490	$38,750 to $46,890	2,880
MA programs in Pennsylvania	$43,920	$38,950 to $46,490	23,050
MA programs in Florida	$43,680	$37,830 to $46,800	66,110
MA programs in Ohio	$42,810	$38,060 to $46,270	28,950
MA programs in South Dakota	$41,870	$37,730 to $45,870	1,340
MA programs in Georgia	$41,600	$36,910 to $46,870	28,780
MA programs in South Carolina	$41,160	$37,290 to $46,950	12,110
MA programs in Wyoming	$40,920	$36,770 to $46,900	1,040
MA programs in Missouri	$40,440	$37,380 to $46,600	13,050
MA programs in Michigan	$39,870	$37,420 to $46,020	27,810
MA programs in Tennessee	$39,570	$37,160 to $45,580	19,180
MA programs in Texas	$39,520	$36,520 to $46,180	75,340
MA programs in Kansas	$39,510	$37,050 to $46,380	5,510
MA programs in Kentucky	$39,270	$36,560 to $45,940	13,440
MA programs in New Mexico	$39,230	$37,240 to $45,970	5,400
MA programs in Oklahoma	$38,750	$36,600 to $45,630	10,510
MA programs in Arkansas	$37,760	$35,700 to $42,900	5,150
MA programs in West Virginia	$37,180	$35,540 to $41,140	4,540
MA programs in Louisiana	$36,320	$32,020 to $38,550	12,310
MA programs in Alabama	$36,100	$32,390 to $38,360	13,300
MA programs in Mississippi	$35,360	$31,200 to $38,190	3,340

BLS OEWS May 2025, state annual wages, highest median first. BLS publishes state figures for 51 states and DC. Each state link goes to that state's verified programs.

Which Workplaces Pay Medical Assistants the Most

Your employer type changes your pay as well as your day. The BLS reports these median annual wages by industry for May 2025:

Workplace	Median annual wage	Share of medical assistant jobs
Outpatient care centers	$48,560	10%
Hospitals (state, local and private)	$46,910	17%
Offices of physicians	$45,520	56%
Offices of other health practitioners	$38,400	8%

Physicians’ offices employ most medical assistants and pay close to the national median. Outpatient care centers and hospitals pay more. Hospitals are the kind of around-the-clock facility where the BLS says some medical assistants work evening, weekend or holiday shifts. Offices of other health practitioners, such as chiropractors, pay the least of the four.

If pay is your priority, combine the two levers: a higher-paying state and an outpatient center or hospital employer. If you want predictable weekday hours, a physician’s office gives you that at close to the median wage.

Job Outlook for Medical Assistants

The BLS projects employment of medical assistants to grow 13% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. It expects about 109,700 openings a year over the decade, from new jobs plus workers who retire or change careers.

For comparison, nursing assistant employment is projected to grow 3% over the same decade. With about 109,700 openings a year, new graduates enter a field that is hiring steadily in every state.

How to Get Your First Medical Assistant Job

Through a Training Program

Most people train first. A certificate or diploma has a median length of 39 to 40 weeks, and most end with a clinic externship. The median externship is 180 hours. The externship puts you in a working clinic under supervision, and it gives an employer a first reference for you.

A few online and hybrid options show the range:

Herzing University-Madison’s online diploma: 10 months, $12,720 in total tuition, with a 180-hour externship over 8 weeks. It prepares students for the CCMA.
Bryan University’s online clinical certificate: about 8 months for $18,650, covering phlebotomy and coding, with one NHA exam attempt included.
Orion Technical College’s online diploma: as few as 10 months for $15,940 in tuition and fees.

The how to become a medical assistant guide walks through every step, and the program matcher finds programs near you.

Through On-the-Job Training or an Apprenticeship

Entry-level jobs that train you do exist. The BLS says some medical assistants start with a high school diploma and learn on the job. Experience then opens certification routes:

The CCMA from NHA accepts 1 year of supervised medical assisting work within the last 3 years.
The RMA from AMT accepts 3 years of full-time medical assistant work within the past 7, with both clinical and administrative duties.
The CMA (AAMA) Alternative Pathway accepts graduates of qualifying postsecondary medical assisting apprenticeship programs, as well as programs outside CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation.

On-the-job training is slower to a credential: the RMA work route takes 3 years, against a median of about 40 weeks for a certificate or diploma.

Certification and Hiring

Most states don’t require certification, but the BLS notes that employers may prefer or require it. Read the postings near you to see which credential local employers name.

Four national credentials exist: the CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), CCMA (NHA) and NCMA (NCCT). The CMA (AAMA) standard route requires a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program, and 339 of the 1,340 verified programs qualify. Check one with the accredited program checker, compare all four exams in the medical assistant certification guide, or read the CMA certification guide.

Medical Assistant Career Path

Medical assisting is a starting point with several directions:

Specialty practices. Specialty offices such as ophthalmology use medical assistants for specialty tasks, like teaching patients contact lens care.
Phlebotomy and lab work. Phlebotomists earned a median of $45,230 in May 2025, close to medical assistant pay.
Billing, coding and office leadership. The 365 programs that teach billing and coding give you a base for front-office and revenue roles.
Nursing. LPN programs typically take about 1 year and end with a licensing exam. The LPN median was $64,400 in May 2025.

Role	Median pay, May 2025	Employed
Licensed practical nurse	$64,400
Medical assistant	$45,690	817,870
Phlebotomist	$45,230	143,540
Nursing assistant	$42,260	1,448,910

The LPN figure is from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, and the others are BLS OEWS.

A degree helps if you plan to move up. Several schools let certificate or diploma graduates finish an associate degree online. Ross College-Grand Rapids North charges an $11,207 published total for students who completed its MA diploma. Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga quotes $7,840 to complete with 72 transfer credits, in as little as 4 to 6 months, for its Medical Clinical Assistant graduates.

How to Choose Training That Pays Off

Check your state’s median first. Pay ranges from $35,360 to $59,290 by state, so a program’s cost should make sense for local wages.
Keep the cost in proportion. Medical assistant programs have a median cost of $14,650. A public college program often costs far less. See medical assistant school cost.
Pick the credential employers near you ask for. If postings name the CMA (AAMA), choose an accredited program.
Look for phlebotomy and EKG. Blood draws and specimen collection are core BLS-listed duties, and these skills are taught in 657 and 570 programs.
Ask where externs get placed. The externship is your first supervised clinical work and your first reference.

Comparing medical assisting with other entry-level roles? Read medical assistant vs CNA, or check how long medical assistant school takes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make an Hour?

The national median was $21.97 an hour in May 2025. State medians range from $17 an hour in Mississippi to $28.50 an hour in Washington.

Can You Get a Medical Assistant Job Without Certification?

In most states, yes. The BLS notes that most states don't require certification, but employers may prefer or require it. Some states do set rules, so the BLS advises checking with your state licensing agency.

Can You Become a Medical Assistant Through On-the-Job Training?

Some people do. The BLS says some medical assistants enter with a high school diploma and learn on the job. Work experience can later qualify you for certification: the NHA's CCMA accepts 1 year of supervised medical assisting work within the last 3 years, and the AMT's RMA accepts 3 years of full-time work within the past 7.

Do Certified Medical Assistants Earn More?

The BLS OEWS survey reports pay for all medical assistants together and doesn't split it by certification. Certification matters more for getting hired, since many employers prefer or require it.

Is Medical Assisting a Good Step Toward Nursing?

It can be. LPN programs typically take about 1 year and end with a licensing exam, and the BLS median for LPNs was $64,400 in May 2025. A medical assistant associate degree adds general education credits you may be able to transfer.

What Is the Top Pay for Medical Assistants?

Nationally, the top 10% earned $59,310 or more in May 2025. In Washington, the 90th percentile was $74,200, and in California it was $77,300.