Medical Assistant Salary
Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Their duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice.
2026 Salary Overview
The average annual salary of a medical assistant is $30,550, which is about an average hourly pay of $14.69. The top 10 percent of medical assistants earn around $41,570, while the bottom 10 percent earn $21,080. Salaries may vary depending on level of qualification, experience, place of occupation and geography.
The highest paying medical assistant positions are at psychiatric/substance abuse hospitals, insurance companies, scientific research facilities, and dentist offices. Cities with the highest average salaries for medical assistants include Vallejo, CA ($47,430), Fairbanks, AK ($42,520), San Francisco ($41,900), Santa Rosa, CA ($39,830) and Danbury, CT ($39,430).
Employment Rate
There were around 560,800 medical assistants employed in the United States in 2012. The majority of medical assistants work in physicians' offices and hospitals or other healthcare facilities.
Education and Training Requirements
Typical Entry-Level Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Work Experience: None required
On-the-job Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Most medical assistants complete a postsecondary education program in medical assisting. These programs are usually offered by vocational schools, community colleges, and technical schools and typically take about 1 year to complete.
Job Outlook (2026-2036)
Medical assistants are high in demand. Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 16 percent from 2025 to 2035, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth of the aging baby boom population will continue to increase demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians.
The employment rate is expected to increase by 29 percent from 2012 to 2022, which is a lot faster than the average rate for all occupations. About 123,000 openings for medical assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
As of 2025, there were approximately 831,100 jobsin this occupation across the United States.
Work Environment
Medical assistants work in physicians' offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities. Most medical assistants work full time. Some may work evenings, weekends, or holidays to cover shifts in medical facilities that are always open.
Salary Trends Over Time
The chart below shows how medical assistant salaries have changed over the years, from 2015 to 2026. You can select a specific state to see localized trends or view the national average.
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Salary by State
The following table shows medical assistant salary data by state, including the lowest 10%, median, highest 10%, and average salaries.
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