Home   »»   Medical Assistant Salary

Medical Assistant Salary: How Much Do They Make? (Last Updated 2024)

The average medical assistant salary can vary a great deal depending on your experience, education, certification, location, specialization, and specific employerr path. Here, you will also learn more about starting salary for MAs, average salary, factors that can help you earn a higher salary, and even the expected salary growth for MAs over the course of the next decade.


Search Medical Assistant Programs

Get information on Medical Assistant programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

Sponsored Search

Starting Salary of a Medical Assistant

Hourly: The starting hourly medical assistant salary across the country is an average of $12.36. This is quite a bit higher than the starting average hourly earnings of $10.76, across all professions in the nation.

Monthly: The typical monthly salary for an MA fresh out of school is roughly $2,140.

Annual: The average annual salary for a brand-new medical assistant is $25,705. Again, this is much more than the national average starting salary across all professions, which is $22,370 per year.

Type Salary
Hourly $12.36
Monthly $2,140
Annual $25,705
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



Average Salary of a Medical Assistant

Hourly: Whereas the numbers above reflect the average salary among inexperienced medical assistants, the hourly wage across all medical assistants in the United States is $16.15. This encompasses every state and every MA regardless of his or her education and experience.

Monthly: MAs earn an average of $2800 a month.

Annual: The annual salary across all MAs in the US is $33,580, which is relatively decent when compared to various other allied health careers focused on support roles. Medical assistants tend to earn higher salaries in more complex or stressful environments and having several years’ experience is a surefire way to earn a raise, as well.

Type Salary
Hourly$16.15
Monthly $2,800
Annual $33,580
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



Total Annual Compensation of a Medical Assistant (Including Other Benefits)

When asking how much medical assistants make, it’s important to consider more than just the paycheck. Other benefits and forms of compensation may be incredibly valuable to you, including paid leave, supplemental pay, retirement accounts, health insurance, and more. For example, in the private sector, the average medical assistant salary is $33,490. When you consider the additional $10,181 in benefits, this drives the total compensation to $43,671 a year – a far more desirable amount. In the government sector the total compensation for a medical assistant is even higher at $48,969, with the base salary being $35,640, added to that a good $13,329 of benefits.

Compensation Component Private Industry State and Local Government
Compensation % Salary Compensation % Salary
Wages and Salaries 69.60% $33,490 62.60% $35,640
Other Benefits 30.40% $10,181 37.40% $13,329
Paid leave 7.00% $2,344 7.60% $2,709
Supplemental Pay 3.80% $1,273 1.00% $356
Insurance 8.00% $2,679 11.80% $4,206
Retirement and Savings 3.80% $1,273 11.50% $4,099
Legally Required 7.80% $2,612 5.50% $1,960
Total 100.00% $43,671 100.00% $48,969



Salaries for Different Types of Medical Assistants

As a medical assistant you gain professional expertise by earning a certification. This not only adds substantial credibility to your resume but also helps you earn higher salaries vis-à-vis your non-certified counterparts.

Certified Medical Assistant: Medical assistants who have successfully passed the CMA certification exam go on to earn an average salary of $35,120, which is close to 5% higher than a non-certified MA. Earning the CMA credential signifies the candidate being well versed with professional skills and knowledge required to excel at work.

Registered Medical Assistant: A registered medical assistant has met unique criteria and passed the rigorous RMA certification exam to prove his or her ability and knowledge. RMAs earn an average annual salary of 34,320. The longer you remain registered, and the more experience you gain, the higher your salary can climb over time.

Clinical Medical Assistant: Clinical medical assistants work mostly with patients, whether they assist with minor in-office procedures, perform intake duties, or keep patients’ records. A CMA earns this position after successfully passing the CCMA exam which tests knowledge skills unique to this role. Clinical MAs earn an average annual salary of about $34,550 a year – close to thousand dollars higher than that of the average salary for all medical assistants. This is due to the nature of the job and the higher level of specialization required performing it well.

Administrative Medical Assistant: An administrative medical assistant is someone who focuses primarily on providing support in an office setting. To take on this role you must prove your professional competence by passing the CMAA exam. On average, these individuals earn roughly $33,990 a year – a few hundred more than MAs in general.

Type Salary
Certified Medical Assistant $35,120
Registered Medical Assistant $34,320
Clinical Medical Assistant $34,550
Administrative Medical Assistant $33,990
(Source: In-House Research)



State Wise Salary of Medical Assistants

Another important factor that influences medical assistant salaries is location. Some states pay far less than others; in West Virginia, the average annual salary is less than $27,500. However, in California, MAs earn as much as $52,400 a year – close to double the average salary of the lowest-paying part of the country.

State Hourly Monthly Annual
Alabama $13.33 $2,310 $27,730
Alaska $20.22 $3,510 $42,060
Arizona $15.79 $2,740 $32,840
Arkansas $14.43 $2,500 $30,010
California $17.61 $3,050 $36,630
Colorado $16.95 $2,940 $35,260
Connecticut $17.55 $3,040 $36,510
Delaware $15.78 $2,740 $32,830
District of Columbia $19.50 $3,380 $40,570
Florida $15.37 $2,670 $31,980
Georgia $15.41 $2,670 $32,060
Hawaii $17.69 $3,070 $36,800
Idaho $15.36 $2,660 $31,950
Illinois $16.69 $2,890 $34,710
Indiana $15.10 $2,620 $31,410
Iowa $16.36 $2,840 $34,030
Kansas $14.98 $2,600 $31,160
Kentucky $14.93 $2,590 $31,050
Louisiana $13.37 $2,320 $27,810
Maine $16.35 $2,840 $34,020
Maryland $17.35 $3,010 $36,080
Massachusetts $18.90 $3,280 $39,310
Michigan $15.03 $2,610 $31,270
Minnesota $18.78 $3,250 $39,050
Mississippi $14.61 $2,530 $30,390
Missouri $15.08 $2,610 $31,370
Montana $15.95 $2,760 $33,170
Nebraska $15.97 $2,770 $33,210
Nevada $16.26 $2,820 $33,830
New Hampshire $17.22 $2,990 $35,820
New Jersey $17.20 $2,980 $35,770
New Mexico $14.42 $2,500 $30,000
New York $17.41 $3,020 $36,220
North Carolina $15.44 $2,680 $32,110
North Dakota $17.07 $2,960 $35,500
Ohio $15.01 $2,600 $31,220
Oklahoma $14.49 $2,510 $30,140
Oregon $17.78 $3,080 $36,990
Pennsylvania $15.38 $2,670 $31,980
Rhode Island $16.88 $2,930 $35,110
South Carolina $14.94 $2,590 $31,080
South Dakota $14.37 $2,490 $29,890
Tennessee $15.14 $2,620 $31,490
Texas $14.85 $2,570 $30,880
Utah $15.39 $2,670 $32,010
Vermont $17.83 $3,090 $37,080
Virginia $16.20 $2,810 $33,690
Washington $19.09 $3,310 $39,700
West Virginia $13.11 $2,270 $27,270
Wisconsin $17.40 $3,020 $36,180
Wyoming $15.83 $2,740 $32,930
Guam $11.93 $2,070 $24,810
Puerto Rico $9.59 $1,660 $19,950
Virgin Islands $13.51 $2,340 $28,110
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



50 Metro Areas Where Medical Assistants Earn the Highest

Individual metro areas can also play an important role in determining your salary. For example, in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area, you could earn as much as $43,720 per year, considerably higher than the national average. To give you a better idea we have listed some of the metros paying the highest MA salaries in the country.

Metro Hourly Monthly Annual
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara $21.02 $3,640 $43,720
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward $20.87 $3,620 $43,420
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue $20.29 $3,520 $42,200
Rochester $20.05 $3,480 $41,710
Santa Rosa $19.62 $3,400 $40,800
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua $19.11 $3,310 $39,740
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington $19.00 $3,290 $39,530
Worcester $18.75 $3,250 $39,010
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro $18.62 $3,230 $38,730
Portland-South Portland $18.25 $3,160 $37,950
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria $18.03 $3,130 $37,510
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood $18.00 $3,120 $37,440
San Diego-Carlsbad $17.83 $3,090 $37,100
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk $17.79 $3,080 $37,010
New Haven $17.78 $3,080 $36,970
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura $17.67 $3,060 $36,740
Madison $17.65 $3,060 $36,700
New York-Newark-Jersey City $17.61 $3,050 $36,630
Urban Honolulu $17.59 $3,050 $36,580
Springfield $17.58 $3,050 $36,570
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade $17.54 $3,040 $36,470
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford $17.51 $3,040 $36,430
Eugene $17.43 $3,020 $36,250
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim $17.36 $3,010 $36,120
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson $17.34 $3,010 $36,070
Reno $17.10 $2,960 $35,570
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin $16.96 $2,940 $35,290
Spokane-Spokane Valley $16.86 $2,920 $35,070
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton $16.78 $2,910 $34,900
Providence-Warwick $16.76 $2,910 $34,860
Modesto $16.63 $2,880 $34,600
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls $16.59 $2,880 $34,520
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington $16.57 $2,870 $34,460
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin $16.44 $2,850 $34,200
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis $16.42 $2,850 $34,160
Stockton-Lodi $16.41 $2,840 $34,130
Columbus $16.39 $2,840 $34,080
Omaha-Council Bluffs $16.35 $2,840 $34,020
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell $16.30 $2,830 $33,900
Winston-Salem $16.30 $2,830 $33,900
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia $16.26 $2,820 $33,830
Kansas City $16.23 $2,810 $33,760
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale $16.14 $2,800 $33,570
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise $16.08 $2,790 $33,440
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton $16.03 $2,780 $33,330
Grand Rapids-Wyoming $15.98 $2,770 $33,240
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson $15.95 $2,760 $33,170
Charleston-North Charleston $15.92 $2,760 $33,120
Cincinnati $15.92 $2,760 $33,110
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach $15.91 $2,760 $33,100
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



Medical Assistant Salary vs. Similar Allied Health Careers Salary

Finally, if you are considering a few different allied health careers or support roles, it may be helpful to consider the average annual salary associated with similar roles. Dental hygienists can earn the most out of all of these career choices; their average annual salary stands out at $74,680. On the other hand, nursing assistants earn significantly less than MAs at just $28,540 a year, on average. Factors that drive the differences in salaries across medical support roles include the demand for people to fill positions, the stress of the particular career, the education required, and more.

Occupation Hourly Monthly Annual
Dental Hygienist $35.91 $6,220 $74,680
Occupational Therapy Assistant and Aide $26.66 $4,620 $55,450
Physical Therapist Assistant and Aide $22.65 $3,930 $47,120
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse $21.98 $3,810 $45,710
Medical Records and Health Information Technician $20.59 $3,570 $42,820
Dental Assistant $18.60 $3,220 $38,690
Psychiatric Technician $17.34 $3,010 $36,070
Phlebotomist $16.69 $2,890 $34,710
Medical Assistant $16.15 $2,800 $33,580
Pharmacy Technician $15.90 $2,760 $33,060
Nursing Assistant $13.72 $2,380 $28,540
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)




Frequently Asked Questions


1) By How Much has the MA Salary Grown in the Last 10 years?

Over the last decade, the average MA salary has grown by a total of 18.78%. In 2013, the salary only increased by 0.75%, but in 2016, it increased by 2.95%. Factors driving this growth include the increased cost of living and the need for employers to remain competitive in order to secure the highest quality support staff.

Year Salary Growth
Number %
2008 $29,060 $790 2.79%
2009 $29,450 $390 1.34%
2010 $29,760 $310 1.05%
2011 $30,170 $410 1.38%
2012 $30,550 $380 1.26%
2013 $30,780 $230 0.75%
2014 $31,220 $440 1.43%
2015 $31,910 $690 2.21%
2016 $32,850 $940 2.95%
2017 $33,580 $730 2.22%
Overall Growth in Ten Years $5,310 18.78%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



2) How Much Will the MA Salary Grow in the Next 5 Years?

Over the next five years, the average salary for medical assistants is expected to grow by 10.30%, which is in line with the growth over the last five years. The same factors will continue to drive growth ranging from 1.29% to 2.48% each year. As people expect better quality healthcare, employers will have to do their part to attract only the best employees. Salary is one of the biggest factors that MAs consider when looking into employment, so facilities that offer higher salaries and better benefits are those most likely to secure the best MAs.

Year Salary Growth
Number %
2018 $34,370 $790 2.35%
2019 $35,010 $640 1.86%
2020 $35,460 $450 1.29%
2021 $36,340 $880 2.48%
2022 $37,040 $700 1.93%
Overall Growth in Next Five Years $3,460 10.30%
(Source: In-House Research)



3) How Much Does A Certified Medical Assistant Make?

Hourly: The average certified medical assistant salary is 4.52% higher than that of non-certified MAs at $16.88 an hour. This increase is due to the MA’s willingness to take a rigorous exam and maintain his or her certification to prove his or her knowledge.

Monthly: The monthly salary for CMAs is $2,930 which is 4.64% more than their non-certified counterparts.

Annual: Annually, the CMA earns an average of $35,120, which is $1,540.00, more than the average for all MAs. As the need for certified support personnel in healthcare grows, it is expected that this difference in salary will slowly start to increase further.

Type Average Difference
CMA NON-CMA Number %
Hourly $16.88 $16.15 $0.73 4.52%
Monthly $2,930 $2,800 $130.00 4.64%
Annual $35,120 $33,580 $1,540.00 4.59%
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



4) Which Healthcare Settings Pay Medical Assistants the Most?

Part of earning the highest possible salary as a medical assistant involves choosing the right employer in the right settings. While continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities pay the least at $27,240 per year, junior colleges pay the most at $39,930 on average. This is the reason why so many MAs strive to secure employment with an educational facility. The combination of excellent hours and higher pay is ideal for many people.

Rank Industry Hourly Monthly Annual
1 Junior Colleges $19.20 $3,330 $39,930
2 4-Year Colleges & Universities $17.85 $3,090 $37,130
3 Offices of Dentists $17.50 $3,030 $36,410
4 Personal Care Services $17.39 $3,020 $36,180
5 Outpatient Care Centers $16.83 $2,920 $35,020
6 Hospitals $16.46 $2,850 $34,250
7 Offices of Physicians $15.76 $2,730 $32,780
8 Offices of Other Health Practitioners $14.26 $2,470 $29,660
9 Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly $13.09 $2,270 $27,240
(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)



5) How Can Medical Assistants Earn More Money?

Though the medical assistant salary per hour, month, and year is far below that of the average American worker’s salary, there are things you can do in order to boost your earning potential.

Complete your Associate Degree: Medical assistants who choose to pursue an associate degree rather than a diploma or certificate tend to earn more. This is because more information is presented to prospective MAs in an associate degree program. By attending a top medical assistant school, you could earn even more.

Get Nationally Certified: Becoming certified through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), American Medical Technologists (AMT), National Healthcareer Association (NHA), National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), or American Medical Certification Association (AMCA), is a great way to give yourself a salary increase – and more recognition, too.

Stay Current on Your Knowledge and Skills: Regularly participating in workshops and completing continuing education courses will make you more valuable to your employer.

Keep Your Performance Consistent: Showing up to work on time every day, putting your best face forward, and ensuring patients are comfortable is a great way to show your employer that you deserve a raise.

Volunteer to Work Overtime on Occasion: Working long hours can take away from your social life, but it can also show a great work ethic. By volunteering to stay late – especially when things are hectic – you can earn 1.5 times your hourly pay.

Ask for Feedback: The ability to take constructive criticism and apply it to your everyday life will serve you well in your career. Ask your superiors for feedback and take it seriously.

Join Professional Associations: There are numerous professional medical assisting related organizations that can help you succeed in your career. Seek them out and become a member.