2027 Salary Guide · Healthcare · Clinical support
As of May 2025, the BLS median for medical assistants was $45,690 a year, or $21.97 an hour. At current wage growth that is about $48,500 in 2027. The middle half of the occupation earns within about $10,710 of each other, while the gap between Seattle ($61,500) and Detroit ($39,410) is about $22,090, so where an MA works moves pay more than how long they have worked.
What moves pay
With a compressed national range, experience alone moves pay slowly. These factors make a bigger difference.
Seattle's median is about $22,090 above Detroit's. Even within the Northeast, Boston ($50,740) pays about $5,870 more than Buffalo ($44,870).
BLS reports a $48,560 median in outpatient care centers and $46,910 in hospitals, against $45,520 in physicians' offices, which employ 56 percent of MAs, and $38,400 in offices of other health practitioners.
BLS says most states do not require certification but employers may prefer or require it, and some require basic life support certification. Some states set their own rules for MAs who perform certain tasks.
Local pay
Seattle ($61,500), the Bay Area ($59,790) and Portland ($56,240) lead, the only metros above $55,000. New York (about 44,060 MAs) and Los Angeles (about 39,770) are the largest markets, both close to the national median. Detroit is lowest at $39,410, with Houston and Pittsburgh near $42,000.
| Metro area | Median | 10th – 90th | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $61,500 +35% | $48,120 – $76,360 | 10,210 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $59,790 +31% | $47,070 – $79,750 | 14,320 |
| Portland | $56,240 +23% | $46,160 – $63,300 | 6,390 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | $52,570 +15% | $45,160 – $60,100 | 7,390 |
| Boston | $50,740 +11% | $46,070 – $62,500 | 10,750 |
| Denver | $49,700 +9% | $45,500 – $60,580 | 6,440 |
| San Diego | $49,420 +8% | $43,340 – $66,340 | 9,370 |
| New York City | $48,370 +6% | $37,390 – $59,910 | 44,060 |
| Los Angeles | $47,760 +5% | $39,160 – $73,940 | 39,770 |
| Chicago | $47,270 +3% | $36,600 – $57,360 | 15,640 |
| Metro area | Median | 10th – 90th | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $47,020 +3% | $39,280 – $56,390 | 4,120 |
| Hartford | $46,880 +3% | $38,630 – $56,300 | 3,270 |
| Phoenix | $46,830 +2% | $38,610 – $55,100 | 15,410 |
| Baltimore | $46,790 +2% | $38,050 – $56,940 | 8,170 |
| Washington, DC | $46,640 +2% | $37,440 – $59,300 | 13,890 |
| Charlotte | $46,520 +2% | $36,620 – $56,840 | 6,060 |
| Raleigh | $46,160 +1% | $37,720 – $56,420 | 3,810 |
| Atlanta | $46,060 +1% | $36,340 – $58,310 | 16,910 |
| Philadelphia | $45,890 +0% | $38,300 – $53,400 | 13,150 |
| Austin | $45,820 +0% | $37,210 – $54,820 | 5,830 |
| Miami | $44,930 -2% | $35,650 – $51,930 | 18,670 |
| Albany | $44,870 -2% | $37,540 – $50,060 | 1,390 |
| Buffalo | $44,650 -2% | $35,420 – $55,760 | 2,310 |
| Nashville | $44,620 -2% | $36,610 – $51,870 | 6,340 |
| Tampa | $44,480 -3% | $36,860 – $49,490 | 9,310 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $43,100 -6% | $35,570 – $55,620 | 20,560 |
| Pittsburgh | $42,840 -6% | $34,790 – $47,010 | 4,810 |
| Houston | $42,110 -8% | $30,910 – $49,360 | 18,280 |
| Detroit | $39,410 -14% | $33,280 – $48,750 | 12,400 |
BLS metro estimates, May 2025. Percent compares the metro median with the national median. "Jobs" is BLS estimated employment in the metro; blank where BLS does not publish it.
For practices and clinics
MA candidates compare by the hour. The national median is about $21.97; Seattle's is about $29.57.
O*NET tasks for the occupation run from taking vital signs and drawing specimens to answering phones and completing insurance forms. Candidates strong in one half are not always strong in the other.
Requiring it narrows the pool; preferring it and paying for the exam widens it. Check your state's rules for tasks such as injections.
If outpatient centers and hospitals in your area pay more than physician practices, as they do nationally, expect candidates to compare your rate with theirs.
Pay distribution
The national range is compressed, especially in the middle. The 90th percentile, $59,310, is only about $13,600 above the median.
Typical for the Medical Assistant title: $38,470 to $49,180 (25th to 75th percentile of Medical Assistants)
| Percentile | BLS, May 2025 | 2027 planning estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,050 | $38,500 |
| 25th percentile | $38,470 | $41,000 |
| Median | $45,690 | $48,500 |
| 75th percentile | $49,180 | $52,500 |
| 90th percentile | $59,310 | $63,000 |
Outlook
BLS projects much faster than average growth from 2025 to 2035 across 833,900 jobs, with about 109,700 openings a year. That makes MA one of the most accessible entry points into clinical work.
BLS Employment Projections via O*NET OnLine. Projections cover Medical Assistants as a whole.
Where MAs go next
These are measured BLS medians for related occupations, with the typical preparation BLS describes for each.
| Role | BLS median (May 2025) | Typical preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Medical assistant | $45,690 | Postsecondary certificate, usually 1 to 2 years; some learn on the job |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | A similar-paying specialty that focuses on blood draws |
| Medical coder or records specialist | $51,140 | Postsecondary certificate typical; certification often preferred |
| Licensed practical nurse | $64,400 | A practical nursing program of about 1 year, then a licensing exam |
| Dental hygienist | $98,100 | Associate's degree in dental hygiene and a state license |
Sources: BLS OEWS via O*NET OnLine for medians; BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for typical preparation. Requirements vary by state.
Compare
Phlebotomists earn about the same at the median. Medical coders and records specialists earn about $5,450 more, LPNs about $18,700 more, and dental hygienists more than twice as much.
| Role | BLS median | 2027 estimate | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $48,500 | Much faster than average |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $48,000 | Much faster than average |
| Medical Coder | $51,140 | $54,500 | Much faster than average |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $64,400 | $68,500 | Average |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $104,500 | Much faster than average |
FAQ
Medical assistants earned a median of $45,690 in May 2025, according to BLS, and the middle half earned between $38,470 and $49,180. With two years of wage growth at 3.1% a year, the 2027 planning median is about $48,500. The highest-paid tenth earned more than $59,310.
Spread over 2,080 full-time hours, the $45,690 median for May 2025 comes to about $21.97 an hour. The 10th percentile is about $17.33 an hour and the 90th about $28.51. Seattle, the highest-paying metro in this guide, has a median of about $29.57 an hour.
BLS does not report pay by certification, so there is no federal figure for a certification premium. BLS does say that although most states do not require certification, employers may prefer or require it. In practice, certification widens the set of jobs an MA can apply for, including roles that require it.
BLS does not publish starting pay, but the 10th percentile, $36,050 in May 2025, and the 25th, $38,470, are a reasonable range for first jobs. The gap between those two figures is small, so the metro and employer type usually matter more for a first offer than prior experience.
Among the 29 metros in this guide, Seattle had the highest median in May 2025 at $61,500, followed by the San Francisco Bay Area ($59,790), Portland ($56,240) and Minneapolis-St. Paul ($52,570). Detroit was lowest at $39,410, with Houston ($42,110) and Pittsburgh ($42,840) close behind.
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