How much does a medical assistant make? Medical Assistant salary and hourly pay
A medical assistant in the US earns a median of $45,690 a year, about $21.97 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,050 and the top 10% earn over $59,310. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Washington, has a median of $59,290.
Medical Assistant pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a medical assistant make an hour?
The median medical assistant earns $21.97 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $17.33 for the lowest-paid 10% to $28.52 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| Lower 25% | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| Median (typical) | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Upper 25% | $49,180 | $23.65 |
| Top 10% | $59,310 | $28.52 |
Medical Assistant salary by state
Median annual pay for medical assistants in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,100 | $17.36 |
| Alaska | $52,560 | $25.27 |
| Arizona | $45,940 | $22.09 |
| Arkansas | $37,760 | $18.15 |
| California | $49,660 | $23.88 |
| Colorado | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Connecticut | $47,430 | $22.80 |
| Delaware | $44,490 | $21.39 |
| District of Columbia | $51,050 | $24.54 |
| Florida | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Georgia | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Hawaii | $48,410 | $23.27 |
| Idaho | $44,700 | $21.49 |
| Illinois | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Indiana | $45,110 | $21.69 |
| Iowa | $45,480 | $21.87 |
| Kansas | $39,510 | $19.00 |
| Kentucky | $39,270 | $18.88 |
| Louisiana | $36,320 | $17.46 |
| Maine | $47,580 | $22.88 |
| Maryland | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Massachusetts | $49,460 | $23.78 |
| Michigan | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| Minnesota | $50,480 | $24.27 |
| Mississippi | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Missouri | $40,440 | $19.44 |
| Montana | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Nebraska | $47,370 | $22.77 |
| Nevada | $45,200 | $21.73 |
| New Hampshire | $48,020 | $23.09 |
| New Jersey | $47,210 | $22.70 |
| New Mexico | $39,230 | $18.86 |
| New York | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| North Carolina | $45,140 | $21.70 |
| North Dakota | $45,980 | $22.11 |
| Ohio | $42,810 | $20.58 |
| Oklahoma | $38,750 | $18.63 |
| Oregon | $50,410 | $24.24 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| Rhode Island | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| South Carolina | $41,160 | $19.79 |
| South Dakota | $41,870 | $20.13 |
| Tennessee | $39,570 | $19.02 |
| Texas | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| Utah | $45,360 | $21.81 |
| Vermont | $47,250 | $22.72 |
| Virginia | $44,740 | $21.51 |
| Washington | $59,290 | $28.50 |
| West Virginia | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| Wisconsin | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| Wyoming | $40,920 | $19.67 |
Highest-paying states for medical assistants
- Washington: $59,290 median
- Alaska: $52,560 median
- District of Columbia: $51,050 median
- Minnesota: $50,480 median
- Oregon: $50,410 median
The lowest medians are in Mississippi ($35,360), Alabama ($36,100), Louisiana ($36,320), West Virginia ($37,180), Arkansas ($37,760). The most medical assistant jobs are in California (117,060 jobs), Texas (75,340 jobs), Florida (66,110 jobs), New York (40,710 jobs), Ohio (28,950 jobs).
How much does a medical assistant make a month?
At the median salary of $45,690, a medical assistant earns about $3,808 a month, $1,757 every two weeks or $879 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced medical assistant pay
New medical assistants typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,050 a year and the lowest 25% under $38,470. The top 25% earn over $49,180 and the top 10% over $59,310. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Medical Assistant salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Medical assistant | $45,690 |
| Surgical tech | $64,650 |
| Radiology tech | $80,110 |
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 |
| Pharmacy tech | $45,750 |
Common questions
How much does a medical assistant make?
The US median is $45,690 a year ($21.97 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a medical assistant make an hour?
The median is about $21.97 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $17.33 and the top 10% about $28.52 an hour.
Which state pays medical assistants the most?
Washington has the highest median at $59,290, followed by Alaska ($52,560) and District of Columbia ($51,050).
How much does a medical assistant make a month?
At the US median of $45,690 a year, about $3,808 a month or $1,757 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level medical assistant make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,050 a year and the lowest 25% under $38,470, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of medical assistants make?
The top 10% earn over $59,310 a year; the top 25% earn over $49,180.
How much does a medical assistant make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $49,660 in California, $39,520 in Texas, $43,680 in Florida, $48,000 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 31-9092, “Medical Assistants”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.