Medical Assistants Salary in the United States
Median annual wage: $45,690 · Median hourly: $21.97 · Employment: 817,870
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,050 | $17.33 |
| 25th | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| Median | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| 75th | $49,180 | $23.65 |
| 90th | $59,310 | $28.52 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 31-9092
- Total U.S. employment: 817,870
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
The numbers in context
The mean wage of $46,120 sits 0.9% above the median — the typical worker earns close to the median, while a smaller group of higher earners pulls the average up.
Pay spans a wide range: workers at the 10th percentile earn about $36,050, while those at the 90th percentile earn about $59,310 — a 1.6x gap between entry-level and top earners.
Medical Assistants Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,100 | $17.35 | -21.0% | 13,300 |
| Alaska | $52,560 | $25.27 | +15.0% | 2,140 |
| Arizona | $45,940 | $22.09 | +0.5% | 21,460 |
| Arkansas | $37,760 | $18.15 | -17.4% | 5,150 |
| California | $49,660 | $23.88 | +8.7% | 117,060 |
| Colorado | $48,400 | $23.27 | +5.9% | 13,160 |
| Connecticut | $47,430 | $22.81 | +3.8% | 10,250 |
| Delaware | $44,490 | $21.39 | -2.6% | 2,880 |
| District of Columbia | $51,050 | $24.54 | +11.7% | 2,260 |
| Florida | $43,680 | $21.00 | -4.4% | 66,110 |
| Georgia | $41,600 | $20.00 | -9.0% | 28,780 |
| Hawaii | $48,410 | $23.28 | +6.0% | 3,890 |
| Idaho | $44,700 | $21.49 | -2.2% | 5,250 |
| Illinois | $46,090 | $22.16 | +0.9% | 20,260 |
| Indiana | $45,110 | $21.69 | -1.3% | 19,630 |
| Iowa | $45,480 | $21.87 | -0.5% | 5,990 |
| Kansas | $39,510 | $19.00 | -13.5% | 5,510 |
| Kentucky | $39,270 | $18.88 | -14.1% | 13,440 |
| Louisiana | $36,320 | $17.46 | -20.5% | 12,310 |
| Maine | $47,580 | $22.88 | +4.1% | 4,480 |
| Maryland | $46,410 | $22.31 | +1.6% | 16,390 |
| Massachusetts | $49,460 | $23.78 | +8.3% | 14,880 |
| Michigan | $39,870 | $19.17 | -12.7% | 27,810 |
| Minnesota | $50,480 | $24.27 | +10.5% | 10,580 |
| Mississippi | $35,360 | $17.00 | -22.6% | 3,340 |
| Missouri | $40,440 | $19.44 | -11.5% | 13,050 |
| Montana | $46,820 | $22.51 | +2.5% | 2,460 |
| Nebraska | $47,370 | $22.78 | +3.7% | 2,380 |
| Nevada | $45,200 | $21.73 | -1.1% | 7,760 |
| New Hampshire | $48,020 | $23.09 | +5.1% | 3,000 |
| New Jersey | $47,210 | $22.70 | +3.3% | 20,330 |
| New Mexico | $39,230 | $18.86 | -14.1% | 5,400 |
| New York | $48,000 | $23.08 | +5.1% | 40,710 |
| North Carolina | $45,140 | $21.70 | -1.2% | 23,650 |
| North Dakota | $45,980 | $22.11 | +0.6% | 600 |
| Ohio | $42,810 | $20.58 | -6.3% | 28,950 |
| Oklahoma | $38,750 | $18.63 | -15.2% | 10,510 |
| Oregon | $50,410 | $24.24 | +10.3% | 11,840 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,920 | $21.12 | -3.9% | 23,050 |
| Rhode Island | $47,190 | $22.69 | +3.3% | 3,210 |
| South Carolina | $41,160 | $19.79 | -9.9% | 12,110 |
| South Dakota | $41,870 | $20.13 | -8.4% | 1,340 |
| Tennessee | $39,570 | $19.02 | -13.4% | 19,180 |
| Texas | $39,520 | $19.00 | -13.5% | 75,340 |
| Utah | $45,360 | $21.81 | -0.7% | 9,990 |
| Vermont | $47,250 | $22.71 | +3.4% | 1,140 |
| Virginia | $44,740 | $21.51 | -2.1% | 16,650 |
| Washington | $59,290 | $28.50 | +29.8% | 19,500 |
| West Virginia | $37,180 | $17.87 | -18.6% | 4,540 |
| Wisconsin | $48,680 | $23.41 | +6.5% | 13,810 |
| Wyoming | $40,920 | $19.67 | -10.4% | 1,040 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)
Related Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aides — $35,800/yr
- Retail Salespersons — $35,410/yr
- Fast Food and Counter Workers — $31,200/yr
- General and Operations Managers — $105,770/yr
- Registered Nurses — $97,550/yr
- Cashiers — $32,880/yr
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for medical assistants?
The median annual wage for medical assistants is $45,690 ($21.97 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2024.
Which state pays medical assistants the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many medical assistants are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 817,870 medical assistants employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do medical assistants make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $21.97. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.