Fazlur Rahman
The median medical assistant salary in the United States is $44,602 per year (Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 31-9092). Reported pay ranges from $30,390 (10th percentile) to $51,710 (90th percentile). Specialized medical assistants in cardiology, oncology, or dermatology practices earn 10% to 20% above the median.
Healthcare support occupations including medical assistants have seen the strongest wage growth since 2022 due to post-pandemic healthcare demand, staffing shortages, and minimum wage increases in healthcare-heavy states. Demand drivers include physician office expansion, outpatient care growth, and the aging population.
Data last verified September 2026 from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release, for Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092), plus AAMA industry data.
At a glance
- National median medical assistant wage is $44,602 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
- Washington leads at $59,290; Alaska $52,560; DC $51,050.
- BLS forecasts 14% growth from 2024 to 2034, well above average.
- CMA certification typically adds 10% to 20% to base pay.
Top 10 highest-paying states for medical assistants
The highest-paying states track high-cost-of-living markets. Hawaii's high rate reflects local cost adjustments and a smaller medical assistant workforce.
| Rank | State | Median medical assistant wage (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $59,290 |
| 2 | Alaska | $52,560 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $51,050 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $50,480 |
| 5 | Oregon | $50,410 |
| 6 | California | $49,660 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $49,460 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $48,680 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $48,410 |
| 10 | Colorado | $48,400 |
CMA, RMA, and specialty certification premium
CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) certification is awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) is awarded by AMT. Specialty certifications (CCMA, NCMA) add further premiums. Most states do not require certification for entry-level positions, but certified MAs earn 10% to 20% more and have better advancement opportunities. Specialty practices (cardiology, oncology, dermatology) typically pay premiums even in lower-cost metros.
Frequently asked questions
(See FAQs above for the questions and answers.)
Methodology
Salary figures drawn from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release, for Medical Assistants (SOC 31-9092). State and metro medians reflect published BLS estimates. Annual figures assume full-time work hours (2,080 hours/year).
Compensation data reflects full-time wage-and-salary employment. Verify current postings on employer career sites and individual state Board of Nursing requirements where applicable.
Medical assistant career trajectories typically span clinical medical assisting, administrative medical assisting, specialty practice (cardiology, oncology, dermatology, orthopedics, pediatrics, OB/GYN, gastroenterology, etc.), and advancement to nursing (LPN/LVN then RN) or healthcare administration. Specialty practices typically pay 10% to 20% above general primary care rates. Cardiology and dermatology tend to pay the highest premiums among medical assistant specialties.
CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) certification requires graduation from an accredited program plus passing the CMA Certification Exam administered by the AAMA. Recertification requires 60 contact hours of continuing education every 5 years. Specialty certifications include CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant), NCMA (National Certified Medical Assistant), and specialty-specific certificates (ophthalmic, podiatric, orthopaedic). Most employers compensate certified medical assistants at higher rates than non-certified.
Healthcare staffing shortages since 2022 have driven the strongest wage growth for medical assistants in a generation. California, Washington, Oregon, and Massachusetts have raised minimum wages and applied healthcare sector wage adjustments that pushed medical assistant rates well above pre-pandemic levels. Travel medical assistant assignments pay premium rates of $25 to $40 per hour but require flexibility on location.
Career advancement pathways from medical assisting are well-established. Many nurses began their careers as medical assistants before completing LPN/LVN or RN programs. Healthcare administration roles (practice manager, medical office manager) become accessible with experience plus certifications like the AAPC CPC (Certified Professional Coder) or the ACHA (Certified Healthcare Administrator). Some MAs transition into clinical research, pharma, or device company roles with appropriate additional degrees.
Major US employers of medical assistants in 2026 include large healthcare systems (HCA Healthcare, Ascension Health, CommonSpirit Health, Kaiser Permanente, Trinity Health, AdventHealth, UnitedHealth Group/Optum, Tenet Healthcare, HCA Florida Healthcare, Steward Health Care, Cleveland Clinic, NYU Langone, Mass General Brigham, UCSF Health, Cedars-Sinai), physician practices, outpatient clinics, ambulatory surgery centres, and occupational health services. Pay progression with experience plus specialty certification typically adds 15% to 30% above entry-level within 5 years.
Specialty practices (cardiology, dermatology, orthopaedics, oncology, gastroenterology, OB/GYN) typically pay the highest medical assistant rates due to specialised clinical skills required and higher per-provider revenue generation. Travel medical assistant assignments pay $25 to $40 per hour but require flexibility on geographic location and assignment duration. Many medical assistants progress to nursing or healthcare administration roles through career-advancement programmes offered by large healthcare systems.
Specialty practice medical assistants often earn 10% to 20% above primary care rates because of the specialised clinical skills required and higher per-provider revenue generation in cardiology, dermatology, orthopaedics, oncology, gastroenterology, and OB/GYN. Travel medical assistant assignments pay $25 to $40 per hour but require flexibility on geographic location and assignment duration, and are typically facilitated through specialised healthcare staffing agencies.
Career advancement pathways from medical assisting include LPN/LVN programs (12 to 18 months), RN programs (associate degree 2 to 3 years or BSN 4 years), healthcare administration degrees (bachelor's 4 years), and various specialty certifications. Many healthcare employers offer tuition reimbursement and clinical schedule flexibility to support these pathways. Medical assistants with 3 to 5 years of clinical experience plus specialty certifications often transition to roles as clinical leads, practice managers, or clinical educators.
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