Medical Assistant Salary Guide

Medical Assistants perform both clinical and administrative tasks in outpatient clinics, physician offices, and hospitals. Duties often include taking vitals, preparing patients for exams, administering injections or basic lab tests, managing medical records, scheduling, and assisting clinicians during procedures.

Free resume check

A number is easier to defend when the resume proves it

Review whether your resume explains your actual responsibilities and achievements. Use verified examples alongside pay research when preparing for a salary discussion.

Check my resume free — no signup

Free · No signup

What is the average Medical Assistant salary?

Entry Level

$28,000 - $36,000

Mid Level

$35,000 - $48,000

Senior Level

$45,000 - $60,000

How does Medical Assistant salary grow with experience?

$28,000 - $32,000
0-1
$30,000 - $38,000
1-3
$34,000 - $45,000
3-5
$40,000 - $52,000
5-10
$45,000 - $60,000++
10+
Base (min)
Top of range (max)
Max: $60k

Medical Assistant salary by location

New York City, NY$36,000 - $55,000
San Francisco Bay Area, CA$40,000 - $60,000
Los Angeles, CA$34,000 - $52,000
Chicago, IL$32,000 - $48,000
Dallas–Fort Worth, TX$30,000 - $46,000
Base (min)
Top of range (max)

What factors affect a Medical Assistant's salary?

  • Geographic location and local cost of living
  • Certifications and specialized credentials (CMA, RMA, phlebotomy)
  • Clinical specialty and employer type (hospital, specialty clinic, private practice)
  • Years of experience and demonstrated procedural skills

How to compare Medical Assistant pay figures

The generated ranges in this guide have not been independently source-verified. Check the underlying occupation, location and data period before using a range as a market benchmark. Keep the original source alongside any figure you save. A page updated recently can still contain wages measured in an earlier year, and a broad occupational category may cover several different job titles.

Compare the work as well as the title

Read a vacancy's responsibilities, required experience, working hours and location before placing it beside another role. Two positions called Medical Assistant can have different scope. Record the duties you would own, the team or customers you would support, and any supervisory expectations. Use those details to decide whether a comparison is relevant instead of assuming that a matching title means matching pay.

Keep compensation definitions consistent

Confirm the currency and whether a figure is hourly, monthly or annual. Check the paid hours before converting between periods. Separate guaranteed base pay from bonuses, commissions, overtime, equity and benefits. Ask which parts are guaranteed and which depend on targets, company results or vesting conditions. Compare the same components across offers; a total-compensation figure and a base-salary figure answer different questions.

Identify the statistic too. A median divides the measured workforce into two equal halves. A percentile describes a point in that distribution; it does not automatically describe an entry-level or senior employee. Do not turn national survey percentiles into a personal experience-based pay prediction. Use local, role-relevant evidence when it is available and record any mismatch in coverage.

Build a comparison you can check later

For each job listing, survey or offer, save the role, responsibilities, location, currency, pay period, compensation components, source link and date checked. Mark missing information as unknown. Keep the employer's stated range separate from any expectation you calculate yourself. If the figures differ, first check their definitions and scope rather than averaging incompatible numbers into a new estimate.

When discussing an offer, prepare clear examples of the responsibilities and results you can support with your experience. Ask the recruiter about the role's level, the approved range and how the package is structured. Keep those answers with your comparison so you can assess the offer using confirmed information. This guide gives you questions to investigate; the employer's written terms establish the actual package being offered.

Read the salary source and comparison checklist

Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Assistant Salaries

What is the average salary for a Medical Assistant in the United States?

The national average for Medical Assistants typically falls between $34,000 and $45,000 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer type.

How much can I expect to earn as an entry-level Medical Assistant?

Entry-level Medical Assistants usually earn between $28,000 and $36,000 annually, with pay influenced by region, certification, and clinical setting.

Do certifications affect Medical Assistant pay?

Yes. Certifications like CMA (AAMA), RMA, or additional specialized credentials often lead to higher pay and better job prospects.

Which factors most influence Medical Assistant salaries?

Key factors include geographic location, clinical specialty (e.g., cardiology, dermatology), certifications, years of experience, and employer type (hospital vs. private clinic).

Earn what you're worth as a Medical Assistant

A strong resume gets you to the negotiation table. Build one tailored to your role and level.

Build my Medical Assistant resume free

Free to start · No card

Explore Related Salary Guides

See how salaries compare across similar roles in the same field.