How much do Medical Assistants make?
The average medical assistant salary (CMA salary) in the USA is $40,700 – based on data gathered by the BLS in May 2022 and released in April 2023. This represents a 6.6% increase from $38,190 since May 2021 and an 18% increase since May 2017.
In the following sections we provide a detailed breakdown of average salary levels as well as data on income and employment growth rates.
Browse Content
- What is the average salary for a Medical Assistant in the USA?
- Medical assistant hourly pay 2020 / 2021
- Which are the top paying States for Medical Assistants?
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in your State?
- What is the employment outlook for Medical Assistants?
Average Medical Assistant Salary 2020 / 2021
| May 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Average Salary | $36,930 |
| Average Hourly Wage | $ 17.75 |
| 90th Percentile of Earners | $ 50,580 |
| 10th Percentile of Earners | $26,930 |
If you are thinking of becoming a medical assistant you will be pleased to know that medical assisting is one of the most in demand healthcare careers at present.
Medical Assistants earn an average salary of $40,700 per annum in 2022/2023. There are currently (2023) an estimated 752,460 persons employed as medical assistants in the USA. And this number is projected to continue to grow substantially with a projected increase in employment of 16% between 2021 and 2031.
By comparison to other careers in healthcare support there is not a significant range in salary levels for medical assistants. Salary does increase with experience however and there is approximated $21,000 of a gap between those within entry level positions and those at the top of the career. Similarly there is a notable variation between states with a range of between $31,890 in Louisiana and $50,350 in Washington State.
Interested in learning more about becoming a medical assistant?
How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour?
The average medical assistant pay per hour in the USA is $17.75. Those in the bottom 10% of earners are paid $12.95 per hour, whilst those in the top 10% make $24.82 per hour. Medical Assistants working in medical and outpatient care centres tend to earn the highest hourly wage at $20.35 per hour on average.
Top States For Medical Assistants
The top 5 states for medical assistant pay last year (2022) where;
- Washington – average annual wage of $50,350
- Alaska – average annual wage of $49,400
- California – average annual wage of $47,850
- Minnesota – average annual wage of $47,330
- Oregon – average annual wage of $46,220
The bottom 5 states for medical assistant pay:
- Louisiana – average annual wage of $31,890
- Alabama – average annual wage of $32,480
- West Virginia – average annual wage of $32,300
- Mississippi – average annual wage of $32,180
- Arkansas – average annual wage of $33,940
The highest paying metro area in the USA for medical assistants was Vallejo-Fairfield in California where medical assistants are paid an average annual salary of $62,050. The lowest average salary is in the Monroe metro area in Louisiana at just $28,800 per annum.
Medical Assistant Salary and Employment Data by State
How much does a Medical Assistant make in your State? Browse the map below for more information and to click through to your State. You can also view your State on the table below
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
[/jcolumns]
Employment Outlook
As of May 2022 there are 752,460 people working as medical assistants in the USA.
As you can see from the graph below the outlook for jobs growth and opportunity for those who qualify as Medical Assistants is incredibly favorable. The data depicted in the graph, taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), shows actual and projected employment growth, and predicts that between 2016 and 2024 there will be over 100,000 new positions created in the sector.
In fact the most up-to-date projectsions by the BLS predicts that between 2021 and 2031 employment of medical assistants will grown by 16% – with 123,000 new positions being created in the sector over that timeframe.
The BLS does caution that certification and an understanding of electronic health records will become increasingly important for medical assistants who wish to excel in their careers.
Next Steps:
- For more information on requirements for medical assistant certification in your state visit: Accredited Medical Assistant Schools by State.
- For more information on electronic health records see: Medical Billing and Coding Online Programs