Medical Assistant Salary by State (2026)
Medical assistant salary by state varies widely across the country. Average salaries range from $34,800 in Mississippi to $57,000 in Washington, creating a pay gap of more than $22,000 annually.
The national median salary is $44,200.
In this guide, you’ll find:
- A complete 50-state salary comparison
- The highest- and lowest-paying states
- Salary data by experience level and workplace
- The latest medical assistant job outlook
What Is the Average Medical Assistant Salary in 2026?
Medical assistants earn a median salary of $44,200 per year, or about $21 per hour, according to the latest national data.
Key salary statistics include:
- Median annual salary: $44,200
- Median hourly wage: $21
- Top 10% earners: More than $57,830 per year
- Bottom 10% earners: Less than $35,020 per year
- Projected job growth: 12% over the next decade
As the data below shows, medical assistant salaries vary considerably by state, with some locations offering significantly higher pay than others.
Medical Assistant Salary by State (2026)
Compare estimated average annual medical assistant salaries across all 50 states, ranked from highest to lowest.
| Rank | State | Annual Salary | Estimated Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $57,000 | $27.40 |
| 2 | Alaska | $56,000 | $26.92 |
| 3 | California | $54,800 | $26.35 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $53,500 | $25.72 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $51,200 | $24.62 |
| 6 | Oregon | $50,300 | $24.18 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $50,000 | $24.04 |
| 8 | Maine | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| 9 | New York | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $48,700 | $23.41 |
| 11 | Colorado | $48,600 | $23.37 |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $47,600 | $22.88 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $47,500 | $22.84 |
| 14 | Maryland | $47,500 | $22.84 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $47,200 | $22.69 |
| 16 | Montana | $46,500 | $22.36 |
| 17 | Nevada | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| 18 | Delaware | $45,500 | $21.88 |
| 19 | Arizona | $45,200 | $21.73 |
| 20 | Illinois | $44,800 | $21.54 |
| 21 | Vermont | $44,500 | $21.39 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $43,700 | $21.01 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $43,300 | $20.82 |
| 24 | Virginia | $43,300 | $20.82 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $43,100 | $20.72 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $42,100 | $20.24 |
| 27 | Wyoming | $42,000 | $20.19 |
| 28 | Utah | $41,800 | $20.10 |
| 29 | Idaho | $41,400 | $19.90 |
| 30 | Iowa | $41,200 | $19.81 |
| 31 | Michigan | $41,100 | $19.76 |
| 32 | Ohio | $41,000 | $19.71 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $40,800 | $19.62 |
| 34 | Florida | $40,700 | $19.57 |
| 35 | Indiana | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $40,100 | $19.28 |
| 37 | Texas | $39,900 | $19.18 |
| 38 | Missouri | $39,800 | $19.13 |
| 39 | Georgia | $39,700 | $19.09 |
| 40 | Kansas | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $38,600 | $18.56 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $38,300 | $18.41 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| 47 | Alabama | $36,500 | $17.55 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $35,400 | $17.02 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $34,800 | $16.73 |
Note: Hourly wages are estimated by dividing annual salary by 2,080 full-time work hours per year.
Which States Are Best for Medical Assistants?
Medical assistant salaries range from $34,800 in Mississippi to $57,000 in Washington, a difference of more than $22,000 per year.
While some states offer the highest wages in the country, others provide a stronger balance between income and everyday living costs.
Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Medical Assistants
Washington, Alaska, and California offer the strongest earning potential, with average salaries exceeding $54,000 annually.
| Rank | State | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $57,000 |
| 2 | Alaska | $56,000 |
| 3 | California | $54,800 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $53,500 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $51,200 |
| 6 | Oregon | $50,300 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $50,000 |
| 8 | Maine | $49,400 |
| 9 | New York | $48,900 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $48,700 |
Key takeaway: Washington’s average salary is nearly 29% higher than the national median salary of $44,200.
Lowest-Paying States for Medical Assistants
The lowest salaries are concentrated in several Southern states, where average annual pay falls below $38,000.
| Rank | State | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Arkansas | $37,100 |
| 47 | Alabama | $36,500 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $35,800 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $35,400 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $34,800 |
Key takeaway: Average pay in Mississippi is more than $22,000 lower than in Washington, highlighting how much location can impact earnings.
Best States After Cost of Living
Salary is only part of the equation when comparing job opportunities.
In some cases, the difference between a high-paying state and a more affordable state is smaller than many people expect, according to the latest data from the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.
| State | Average Salary | Living Costs Compared To The U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $41,200 | About 11% lower |
| North Dakota | $43,300 | About 9% lower |
| Nebraska | $40,800 | About 9% lower |
| Minnesota | $48,700 | About 7% lower |
| South Dakota | $43,100 | About 6% lower |
| Pennsylvania | $42,100 | About 4% lower |
| Wisconsin | $43,700 | About 3% lower |
What stands out?
- Minnesota combines one of the higher medical assistant salaries in this analysis ($48,700) with below-average living costs.
- California pays about $6,100 more per year than Minnesota on average ($54,800 vs. $48,700).
- North Dakota’s average salary ($43,300) is close to the national median ($44,200), while living costs are about 9% lower than the U.S. average.
- Iowa and Nebraska offer some of the lowest living costs in this comparison while keeping salaries near the national median.
Medical Assistant Salary by Experience Level
Experience is one of the biggest factors affecting medical assistant pay. As workers gain experience, develop specialized skills, and take on additional responsibilities, their earning potential often increases.
Entry-Level Medical Assistant Salary
Medical assistants who are new to the profession often start below the national median salary while building hands-on experience and developing core clinical and administrative skills.
Bottom 10% salary: Less than $35,020 per year
Entry-level roles typically focus on patient intake, scheduling appointments, taking vital signs, and assisting providers with routine clinical tasks.
Mid-Career Medical Assistant Salary
As medical assistants gain experience, earnings often move closer to or above the national median salary.
National median salary: $44,200 per year
Glassdoor reports an average medical assistant salary of approximately $44,197 per year, which closely aligns with national wage data.
At this stage, many medical assistants work more independently, train new staff members, or develop specialized skills in areas such as pediatrics, cardiology, dermatology, or urgent care.
Senior Medical Assistant Salary
Experienced medical assistants can earn significantly more than the national median, particularly in specialty practices, leadership roles, and higher-paying markets.
Top 10% salary: More than $57,830 per year
Glassdoor reports that Medical Assistant III professionals earn an average salary of approximately $55,732 per year, with top earners reporting more than $77,000 annually.
Senior medical assistants may serve as lead medical assistants, coordinate workflows, mentor staff, or support office management functions.
Certified vs. Non-Certified Medical Assistants
Certification may provide a salary advantage in addition to expanding job opportunities.
Common certifications include:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
- National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)
Key takeaway: Glassdoor data suggests certified medical assistants make more than $4,500 more per year on average than medical assistants overall, though actual earnings vary based on location, employer, and experience.
Medical Assistant Salary by Workplace
Where you work can have a significant impact on your earning potential. Among the most common healthcare settings, outpatient care centers offer the highest median salary for medical assistants, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Bureau Labor of Statistics.
| Workplace | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Outpatient Care Centers | $47,560 |
| Hospitals (State, Local, and Private) | $45,930 |
| Offices of Physicians | $43,880 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $37,510 |
Outpatient Care Centers
Median salary: $47,560 per year
Outpatient care centers offer the highest median pay among the workplaces listed.
Hospitals
Median salary: $45,930 per year
Hospitals pay above the national median salary and often provide opportunities to work across multiple departments and specialties.
Offices of Physicians
Median salary: $43,880 per year
Physician offices employ the largest share of medical assistants nationwide and remain one of the most common workplace settings.
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
Median salary: $37,510 per year
This category includes settings such as chiropractic, podiatry, and optometry offices, which tend to offer lower median salaries than larger healthcare organizations.
Key takeaway: The pay gap between the highest-paying setting (outpatient care centers) and the lowest-paying setting (offices of other health practitioners) is more than $10,000 per year.
Medical Assistant Job Outlook
Medical assisting is one of the fastest-growing healthcare careers in the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is projected to grow 12% between 2024 and 2034, compared with 3% for all occupations.
Medical Assistant Employment Growth
| Occupation Group | Projected Growth (2024–2034) |
|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | 12% |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | 9% |
| All Occupations | 3% |
What’s Driving Demand?
Several long-term trends are expected to support hiring:
- An aging population requiring more healthcare services
- Continued growth in outpatient and preventive care
- Increased demand for healthcare support staff
- Expanding physician offices and specialty clinics
Annual Job Openings
The BLS projects approximately 112,300 medical assistant job openings each year through 2034.
Many of these openings will result from workers retiring, changing careers, or leaving the workforce, in addition to new positions created by industry growth.
What Has the Biggest Impact on Medical Assistant Salary?
Not all salary factors affect earnings equally. Based on the data in this guide, location has the largest impact on pay, followed by experience and workplace setting.
| Factor | Potential Impact On Earnings |
|---|---|
| State | More than $22,000 per year |
| Experience | More than $22,000 between bottom and top earners |
| Workplace Setting | About $10,000 per year |
| Certification | About $4,500 per year |
What the Data Shows
- State matters most: The gap between Washington ($57,000) and Mississippi ($34,800) exceeds $22,000 per year.
- Experience adds up: Top earners make more than $57,830, while the lowest-paid medical assistants earn less than $35,020.
- Workplace setting matters: Medical assistants in outpatient care centers earn about $10,000 more than those working in offices of other health practitioners.
- Certification helps: Certified medical assistants earn about $4,500 more per year on average than medical assistants overall.
FAQs about Medical Assistant Salaries
The average medical assistant salary varies by state and employer, but the latest national data shows a median annual salary of $44,200, or about $21 per hour.
Based on the salary data in this guide, Washington offers the highest average medical assistant salary at approximately $57,000 per year, followed by Alaska and California.
In many cases, yes. Glassdoor salary data shows that Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) earn an average salary of approximately $48,745 per year, compared with $44,197 for medical assistants overall.
In many cases, yes. Glassdoor salary data shows that Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) earn an average salary of approximately $48,745 per year, compared with $44,197 for medical assistants overall.
Yes, medical assistants in higher-paying states, specialty practices, leadership positions, and outpatient care centers can earn more than $50,000 annually. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest-paid 10% of medical assistants earn more than $57,830 per year.
Medical assisting offers relatively short training requirements, strong job demand, and opportunities for career growth. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12% employment growth between 2024 and 2034, which is significantly faster than the average for all occupations.
