Medical Assistants
Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092) earn a median $45,690 a year ($21.97 an hour) in the United States, with 817,870 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What medical assistants do
Medical assistants perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. They interview patients to obtain medical information, measure vital signs, weight and height, and record medical history and test results in medical records. They show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician, prepare and keep the treatment rooms clean, and help physicians examine and treat patients by handing them instruments or materials, giving injections or removing sutures. They collect blood, tissue or other laboratory specimens, log them and prepare them for testing, and explain treatment procedures, medications, diets and physicians' instructions to patients. They clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies. The SOC says administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing and coding information for insurance, and that clinical duties may include administering medications as directed by the physician. O*NET alternate titles include certified medical assistant, clinic assistant, chiropractic assistant and dermatology medical assistant. About 45 percent of respondents report a postsecondary certificate. Physician assistants, who diagnose and treat, are counted in a separate code.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a postsecondary certificate as the typical level of education for this occupation (45 percent).
Also called: Autopsy Assistant, Bilingual Medical Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Chiropractic Assistant, Chiropractor Assistant.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.33 | $18.50 | $21.97 | $23.65 | $28.52 | $22.17 | 817,870 |
| Annual | $36,050 | $38,470 | $45,690 | $49,180 | $59,310 | $46,120 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where medical assistants earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $22.38 | $23.71 | $28.50 | $30.57 | $35.67 | $28.17 | 19,500 | 5.49 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $46,540 | $49,310 | $59,290 | $63,590 | $74,200 | $58,590 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $22.14 | $23.52 | $25.27 | $29.57 | $31.27 | $27.23 | 2,140 | 6.59 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $46,060 | $48,930 | $52,560 | $61,510 | $65,040 | $56,630 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $19.05 | $22.95 | $24.54 | $28.77 | $36.97 | $26.39 | 2,260 | 3.22 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $39,620 | $47,740 | $51,050 | $59,850 | $76,900 | $54,890 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $19.29 | $22.70 | $24.27 | $28.14 | $28.89 | $24.84 | 10,580 | 3.59 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $40,110 | $47,220 | $50,480 | $58,540 | $60,100 | $51,660 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $21.04 | $22.68 | $24.24 | $28.44 | $29.88 | $25.19 | 11,840 | 6.02 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $43,760 | $47,170 | $50,410 | $59,160 | $62,160 | $52,400 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.89 | $22.23 | $23.88 | $29.75 | $37.16 | $26.49 | 117,060 | 6.43 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $39,290 | $46,240 | $49,660 | $61,870 | $77,300 | $55,100 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $15.00 | $17.56 | $19.00 | $22.20 | $23.68 | $19.83 | 75,340 | 5.35 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $36,520 | $39,520 | $46,180 | $49,260 | $41,240 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $17.25 | $18.19 | $21.00 | $22.50 | $23.58 | $20.81 | 66,110 | 6.66 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $35,880 | $37,830 | $43,680 | $46,800 | $49,040 | $43,290 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.92 | $20.96 | $23.08 | $26.50 | $28.60 | $23.44 | 40,710 | 4.20 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $37,280 | $43,600 | $48,000 | $55,120 | $59,480 | $48,750 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $17.33 | $18.30 | $20.58 | $22.25 | $23.35 | $20.49 | 28,950 | 5.22 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $36,050 | $38,060 | $42,810 | $46,270 | $48,560 | $42,610 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $22.67 | $25.21 | $37.22 | $37.28 | $37.41 | $32.08 | 1,360 | 9.46 | 1.80 |
| Annual | $47,150 | $52,430 | $77,410 | $77,530 | $77,800 | $66,730 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $22.49 | $24.54 | $31.16 | $37.36 | $38.41 | $30.85 | 1,550 | 7.58 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $46,770 | $51,040 | $64,820 | $77,710 | $79,890 | $64,160 | ||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $22.06 | $24.29 | $29.83 | $38.33 | $38.33 | $30.09 | 320 | 4.10 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $45,890 | $50,530 | $62,050 | $79,730 | $79,730 | $62,580 | ||||
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | Hourly | $21.79 | $23.40 | $29.79 | $37.04 | $37.54 | $29.78 | 7,410 | 6.86 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $45,330 | $48,670 | $61,970 | $77,030 | $78,090 | $61,940 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $23.74 | $24.71 | $29.78 | $37.56 | $38.28 | $31.42 | 6,400 | 5.64 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $49,370 | $51,390 | $61,940 | $78,120 | $79,620 | $65,360 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.98 | $22.11 | $23.26 | $27.11 | $28.80 | $23.84 | 44,060 | 4.64 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $37,390 | $45,980 | $48,370 | $56,390 | $59,910 | $49,590 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.83 | $22.03 | $22.96 | $28.66 | $35.55 | $25.22 | 39,770 | 6.34 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $39,160 | $45,830 | $47,760 | $59,610 | $73,940 | $52,460 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.10 | $18.19 | $20.72 | $23.01 | $26.74 | $21.06 | 20,560 | 5.08 | 0.97 |
| Annual | $35,570 | $37,840 | $43,100 | $47,850 | $55,620 | $43,810 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $17.14 | $18.21 | $21.60 | $22.67 | $24.97 | $21.23 | 18,670 | 6.62 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $35,650 | $37,880 | $44,930 | $47,150 | $51,930 | $44,150 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $14.86 | $17.63 | $20.25 | $22.46 | $23.73 | $19.99 | 18,280 | 5.56 | 1.06 |
| Annual | $30,910 | $36,670 | $42,110 | $46,730 | $49,360 | $41,590 | ||||
Top industries employing medical assistants
Offices of Physicians employ 55.3% of medical assistants nationally (452,150 jobs) at a median $45,520 a year ($21.88 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (16.3%) and Outpatient Care Centers (10.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 452,150 | 55.3% | $45,520 | $21.88 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 133,400 | 16.3% | $46,890 | $22.55 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 85,840 | 10.5% | $48,560 | $23.35 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | 63,000 | 7.7% | $38,400 | $18.46 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 11,660 | 1.4% | $46,350 | $22.28 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (817,870). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $37,190 for medical assistants in May 2021 and $45,690 in May 2025, with employment of 727,760 and 817,870.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $37,190 | $17.88 | 727,760 |
| May 2022 | $38,270 | $18.40 | 752,460 |
| May 2023 | $42,000 | $20.19 | 763,040 |
| May 2024 | $44,200 | $21.25 | 793,460 |
| May 2025 | $45,690 | $21.97 | 817,870 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $28.50 | $59,290 | $46,540 | $74,200 | 19,500 | 5.49 | 1.04 |
| 2 | Alaska profile | $25.27 | $52,560 | $46,060 | $65,040 | 2,140 | 6.59 | 1.25 |
| 3 | District of Columbia profile | $24.54 | $51,050 | $39,620 | $76,900 | 2,260 | 3.22 | 0.61 |
| 4 | Minnesota profile | $24.27 | $50,480 | $40,110 | $60,100 | 10,580 | 3.59 | 0.68 |
| 5 | Oregon profile | $24.24 | $50,410 | $43,760 | $62,160 | 11,840 | 6.02 | 1.14 |
| 6 | California profile | $23.88 | $49,660 | $39,290 | $77,300 | 117,060 | 6.43 | 1.22 |
| 7 | Massachusetts profile | $23.78 | $49,460 | $43,280 | $61,870 | 14,880 | 4.09 | 0.78 |
| 8 | Wisconsin profile | $23.41 | $48,680 | $39,480 | $57,990 | 13,810 | 4.70 | 0.89 |
| 9 | Hawaii profile | $23.28 | $48,410 | $38,580 | $60,030 | 3,890 | 6.20 | 1.18 |
| 10 | Colorado profile | $23.27 | $48,400 | $39,130 | $59,760 | 13,160 | 4.58 | 0.87 |
| 11 | New Hampshire profile | $23.09 | $48,020 | $39,640 | $60,100 | 3,000 | 4.39 | 0.83 |
| 12 | New York profile | $23.08 | $48,000 | $37,280 | $59,480 | 40,710 | 4.20 | 0.80 |
| 13 | Maine profile | $22.88 | $47,580 | $40,220 | $59,220 | 4,480 | 6.99 | 1.33 |
| 14 | Connecticut profile | $22.81 | $47,430 | $38,480 | $59,530 | 10,250 | 6.04 | 1.15 |
| 15 | Nebraska profile | $22.78 | $47,370 | $37,940 | $59,450 | 2,380 | 2.32 | 0.44 |
| 16 | Vermont profile | $22.71 | $47,250 | $40,570 | $58,420 | 1,140 | 3.76 | 0.72 |
| 17 | New Jersey profile | $22.70 | $47,210 | $37,010 | $58,070 | 20,330 | 4.74 | 0.90 |
| 18 | Rhode Island profile | $22.69 | $47,190 | $39,280 | $56,840 | 3,210 | 6.41 | 1.22 |
| 19 | Montana profile | $22.51 | $46,820 | $38,670 | $56,770 | 2,460 | 4.81 | 0.92 |
| 20 | Maryland profile | $22.31 | $46,410 | $36,930 | $57,250 | 16,390 | 5.93 | 1.13 |
| 21 | Illinois profile | $22.16 | $46,090 | $36,400 | $56,590 | 20,260 | 3.32 | 0.63 |
| 22 | North Dakota profile | $22.11 | $45,980 | $37,650 | $58,230 | 600 | 1.40 | 0.27 |
| 23 | Arizona profile | $22.09 | $45,940 | $38,100 | $51,310 | 21,460 | 6.63 | 1.26 |
| 24 | Iowa profile | $21.87 | $45,480 | $36,730 | $54,960 | 5,990 | 3.84 | 0.73 |
| 25 | Utah profile | $21.81 | $45,360 | $35,890 | $56,260 | 9,990 | 5.76 | 1.09 |
| 26 | Nevada profile | $21.73 | $45,200 | $37,400 | $55,120 | 7,760 | 5.00 | 0.95 |
| 27 | North Carolina profile | $21.70 | $45,140 | $36,010 | $50,850 | 23,650 | 4.79 | 0.91 |
| 28 | Indiana profile | $21.69 | $45,110 | $37,060 | $50,480 | 19,630 | 6.13 | 1.17 |
| 29 | Virginia profile | $21.51 | $44,740 | $37,090 | $52,000 | 16,650 | 4.05 | 0.77 |
| 30 | Idaho profile | $21.49 | $44,700 | $35,500 | $56,740 | 5,250 | 6.12 | 1.16 |
| 31 | Delaware profile | $21.39 | $44,490 | $36,540 | $57,280 | 2,880 | 5.94 | 1.13 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania profile | $21.12 | $43,920 | $36,810 | $48,500 | 23,050 | 3.80 | 0.72 |
| 33 | Florida profile | $21.00 | $43,680 | $35,880 | $49,040 | 66,110 | 6.66 | 1.27 |
| 34 | Ohio profile | $20.58 | $42,810 | $36,050 | $48,560 | 28,950 | 5.22 | 0.99 |
| 35 | South Dakota profile | $20.13 | $41,870 | $35,980 | $48,960 | 1,340 | 2.93 | 0.56 |
| 36 | Georgia profile | $20.00 | $41,600 | $34,270 | $51,430 | 28,780 | 5.89 | 1.12 |
| 37 | South Carolina profile | $19.79 | $41,160 | $34,730 | $49,110 | 12,110 | 5.26 | 1.00 |
| 38 | Wyoming profile | $19.67 | $40,920 | $31,200 | $51,840 | 1,040 | 3.71 | 0.70 |
| 39 | Missouri profile | $19.44 | $40,440 | $35,810 | $48,360 | 13,050 | 4.45 | 0.85 |
| 40 | Michigan profile | $19.17 | $39,870 | $35,000 | $48,330 | 27,810 | 6.32 | 1.20 |
| 41 | Tennessee profile | $19.02 | $39,570 | $34,840 | $48,540 | 19,180 | 5.85 | 1.11 |
| 42 | Texas profile | $19.00 | $39,520 | $31,200 | $49,260 | 75,340 | 5.35 | 1.02 |
| 43 | Kansas profile | $19.00 | $39,510 | $35,140 | $48,300 | 5,510 | 3.83 | 0.73 |
| 44 | Kentucky profile | $18.88 | $39,270 | $32,950 | $47,940 | 13,440 | 6.72 | 1.28 |
| 45 | New Mexico profile | $18.86 | $39,230 | $34,600 | $47,850 | 5,400 | 6.20 | 1.18 |
| 46 | Oklahoma profile | $18.63 | $38,750 | $31,880 | $47,640 | 10,510 | 6.15 | 1.17 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $18.15 | $37,760 | $30,840 | $46,060 | 5,150 | 3.95 | 0.75 |
| 48 | West Virginia profile | $17.87 | $37,180 | $30,890 | $45,350 | 4,540 | 6.47 | 1.23 |
| 49 | Louisiana profile | $17.46 | $36,320 | $28,970 | $44,460 | 12,310 | 6.36 | 1.21 |
| 50 | Alabama profile | $17.35 | $36,100 | $29,630 | $45,040 | 13,300 | 6.29 | 1.20 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $17.00 | $35,360 | $29,210 | $45,070 | 3,340 | 2.87 | 0.55 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (31-9090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Support Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 31-9092 Medical Assistants.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 31-9092, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 31-9092.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.